“Don’t Ignore Your Training”

 

(1 Corinthians 3:9-11) For we are God’s co-workers. You are God’s farmland and God’s building. As an expert builder using the grace that God gave me, I laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that is Jesus the Messiah.

(1 Corinthians 3:18-19) Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in the ways of this world, he must become a fool to become really wise. For the wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. For it is written, “He catches the wise with their own trickery,”

Having a calling, a clear idea of the career you want to follow, or a deep desire for a profession will never replace the training period needed in order to be successful. It is during this training period that you will know if you have what it takes to make it. Sometimes we imitate others or desire the success they have without having any idea of the sacrifices required to reach that level. In the same manner, we wrongly judge certain ministries and Pastors that have wealth without really knowing their humble beginnings. 

I remember the first day of my University orientation in the U.S. The dean of the Science department, Dr. Bohannon, welcomed us all to the Science program by saying “By the time you have passed through my Organic Chemistry class in your second year in University, most of you will have changed degrees and chosen a career outside of the field of Science or Medicine.” He was right!

God lays down the foundation for our success, calling, and purpose in life. However, we have to continue to be submitted to Him during the training period so that our goals line up with His.   You will notice in this modern society where anyone with a smartphone can become a success in social media, the training period and time of trials God put us through is no longer appreciated.

(“If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing well! That’s why God takes time developing us. Look at Moses! He was trained in leadership while shoveling sheep dung in the desert for forty years. Some of his skills may have been learned in the courts of Pharaoh, but his character was shaped here. Who would have thought, looking at him, that he would lead the greatest movement in the history of the Old Testament?

After David was called to lead Israel, he was sent back into the field to feed sheep. All growth takes time! When your ministry (work, business, projects…etc) become bigger than you, you’re in trouble!” – Bob Gass)

 

What Jesus has planned for us is much bigger than who we are right now, therefore, we need to make sure we grow and build upon a strong foundation.

Prayers

• Jesus, You are My hiding place, My glory, My goodness.
• Thank You, Father, that we are Your farmland, Your building and that You have laid a solid foundation for us.
• Thank You that You build us to become wise in a world that ignores Your training period.
• We know that You are preparing us for greater things and for a calling beyond our imagination.
• We pray that we will hold on to our training and make the most of this time of testing and learning.
• We declare that we will daily get closer to fulfilling your purpose in our lives.
• We ask that we will be used for Your glory in all we do and that we will learn to discern your will.
• Help us to build only upon the foundation that Christ has laid for us and not to be distracted by the things the world has to offer us.
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• We ask in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen