Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 5:5

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Paul said here that "God who has made us for this very purpose." God works in our life like a farmer working in the field; farmer patiently waits for the harvest in the field become ripe, similarly God also waits for you and I to grow. Many have the experience of planting vegetables; when you see little vegetables growing up bit by bit, like they're never going to ready for harvest, you are tempted to pull them taller; however, if you actually pull them, they'll wither and die!

Growth takes time, and God often patiently waits for us to grow. We might become impatient and complain to God: "God, why do you leave me fighting here all alone, but don't do anything? Where are you?" Actually, God never leaves us, but rather He's persevering beside us, waiting for our spiritual life to grow. Therefore, we ask that God open our hears and let us know that even though we think He's doing nothing, He actually still cares for us and He's supporting us. He works on you and I must like parents work on their children; God patiently waits for us to grow up much like how parents patiently wait for children to grow up, and He wants us to grow up to be children who honor and please Him.

We are often really worried about the teenagers in our house, but aren't we like teenagers in the eyes of God? We are spiritually rebellious, we want to be independent and rely on ourselves, and he might give God lots of headaches. We, however, thank God because He perseveres and waits for us to grow. He's not persevering passively though, because He has purpose for our lives. Paul said that God has made us for a specific purpose, and He will actively participate in shaping our lives. Paul also said that God has given us a "deposit" in our lives, which is the Holy Spirit that God has given us. It's like God has put a large seal in our lives to certify that we belong to the true God.

Paul 8:16 says that "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Whenever we have any doubt, Holy Spirit will remind us that the promises from God are true. We belong to God, and He will be cultivating our lives until we grow up.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you, because even though some of us are sowing and others are watering, you are the God who helps us to grow. May your Spirit help us to understand what you are doing in our lives, and we thank you for your patience and the way you shape us with your grace. May the Lord give us an obedient heart and help us to enjoy rest in your working hands. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!