Maturation

My beloved Birmingham pastor Frank Barker

Building relationships is so key in our personal development. Words of affirmation, kindness, correction and "kick butt" from a friend (or even an enemy) can so expedite our maturation process. Gary sent the following to me this morning, for which I am eternaly grateful.

How difficult it is for us when we cannot communicate the way we deem to be effective. While I do not know your particular experience personally, I do know what it is like to be unable to express Jesus into lives that matter to me, express Him in a way that I see as effective. But I have come to recognize He is responsible for using what He has given me to be effective for His desires—I can only be who He gives me to be today.

I was talking (sorry how difficult it has become for you to be vocal) to a retired pastor earlier this week and we were discussing what had been most important to us in pastoring. We both agreed it was not the ministry to the masses but those times we were able to touch individual lives for Jesus even when we were not aware of the grace of the moment. Both of us had plenty of stories of individuals telling us years later how some particular touch of God came through us—sometimes we were aware at the time but often we were unaware of what God was doing until dozens of years later they revealed it to us.

It is easy for us to lose track that divine communication happens in many ways, at many levels and that we seldom recognize what God is actually doing, even that He is touching through us.

You mentioned recently trying to give the devotional to your college team, not being able to speak, having the coach read what you wanted to say. Ray, there are so many ways that God can communicate into hearts that we are unaware of. Who but God knows the impact of something like this (beyond your frustration) to the team, staff and even the coach. We don’t know what God knows or what beyond the words touches the hearts of men. We just don’t know and God is wise to not always make it clear to us while He does His good work in others.

As you have said through your writings in so many ways, it is our availability, willingness, humbleness and faithfulness that God speaks through—vocalizations are only one of the means. We need not deprecate the ministry of vulnerability, the ministry of humility, the ministry of presence, the ministry of touch, the ministry of touching through concern, none of which must be vocalized audibly. Ray, you speak loudly in ways that touch the heart of men, that demonstrates the reaching heart of God way more than speech. Do not be discouraged, Brother, but keep on speaking through the language of the heart of God which reaches into the souls of man.

Blessings for today from our gracious Lord

Isn't it fantastically reassuring and humbling to have a friend like Gary! Thanks, Gary.

Maturation through Pain

Divert with me from the topic “listening” to a blurb I wrote for a mentoring situation Sunday.

We’re all born selfish, arrogant and ego-centric. This state carries on to some degree until adulthood. God draws us to Himself and we begin a walk with Him. For the new Believer it is a spiritual infatuation state – self-centered, thrilled with what Christianity has done for them.

Out of this beginning we are asked to cooperate with God’s Spirit to forge lives of selflessness, compassion and love. This transformation is impossible apart from adversity. Suffering. Becoming Christ-like and others-centered is a painful process. We tend to avert this route, possibly through an addiction or another avoidance mechanism, missing out on the opportunity for pesonal growth.

We have two choices: a maturing relationship with God or major disallusionment and growing selfishness that develops from avoiding suffering.

Suffering. The question is not whether we’ll suffer, but how we’ll suffer and just as important, how we’ll respond to suffering. Romans 5:3-5 helps us understand the Biblical role of suffering. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Catch the progression: suffering > endurance (perseverance) > strength of character > hope > never disappointed.
Gary Thomas in his book Authentic Faith suggests that Character is forged only when we pass through fire. Suffering is ordained on our behalf, teaching us to endure with hope and patience, valuing it for the benefit it brings. Suffering is not a house in which to dwell but a doorway to blessing.