A Place For The God-Hungry

Yesterday, I heard Tom Long speak for several hours at Truett Seminary (Baylor University).  He spoke on "Preaching the Gospel of Mark."  I have heard him speak on several different occasions and always come away with such an appreciation for his passion and his storytelling.  Yesterday, as I was listening to Long speak, I thought about how God uses Scripture to shape a church and to shape our lives individually.

God, through the dynamic of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, is working to form and shape us into a certain kind of people.  Like the ever-present construction on some highways, God is forever shaping and forming us to become like Christ.  

• Are you married?  God desires to shape and form you into a Christlike person.
• Are you a parent?  God wishes to use your work as a parent to shape you into a Christlike man or woman.
• Are you single?  God wants to use your singleness as an avenue to Christlikeness.
• Are you having financial struggles?  God desires to form you into the image of Christ through such a struggle.
• Are you having health problems?  Living with chronic pain?  God desires to see you mature in Christ through such pain.

God’s construction is never-ending.  Yet, you are not a do-it-yourself project.  God is present and active through his Holy Spirit, the living dynamic for such construction.

Now this is very encouraging to me.  What a geat adventure!  Who knows how God will shape and form me this day or this week.  Who knows how God will shape me through the various situations of my life.