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“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady…” (Romans 5:3-4 NLT)
We hear often of vicious cycles…do not we? A person takes a small dose of narcotic drug to enjoy a bit of life or due to peer pressure say in a college… When the body starts craving for a “similar high”, he needs to take a greater dose of that drug (as the previous dosage would not give him a necessary kick), so much so that progressively and unwittingly he becomes entrapped in that vicious cycle. Ditto with borrowing money for “Demonstration effect” (to use the parlance of Economics) for purchasing luxury items to show-off in a society… Before one comes to his senses, he would be caught in a debt trap with maxed Credit cards.
Be that as it may, let me bring before you the intricacies of yet another cycle. Before doing so, I need to state that the main purpose of our Heavenly Father saving us Christians is to make us like His Son (See 2 Cor 3:18). In Eternity, the Christ-like obedience, patience, humility, gentleness, meekness, self-control borne out of deep love for the Father would keep us united with Him forever and ever, unlike the Devil who fell away, courtesy of pride. Now how do we absorb these Christ-like qualities in a measure our Saviour possessed? Do we get them by attending a Bible college for, say, 5 years?
Welcome to the subject of “Virtuous cycles”!!!
The main purpose for coming up with this message is to highlight the benefits of being “caught” in a virtuous cycle (read imbibing Christ-like virtues), in stark contrast to a vicious cycle!!!
To illustrate better the spiritual dynamics of a spiritual virtuous cycle, let me take the example of physical exercising. We need a quantum of strength to do physical exercise in the first place, and then by virtue of exercise, we further increase that same physical strength step by step. Similarly, at the point of regeneration as the measure of Spirit is given to us, a measure of virtues like love (for the Lord and fellow human beings), Heavenly joy, patience, meekness, gentleness, self-control constituting the Fruit of the Spirit (See Gal 5:22-23) are already there in a Christian. As our Heavenly Father in His Sovereign wisdom and will permits persecutions in our life as per our Cross-bearing capacity (see 1 Cor 10:13), the measure of the elements of the Fruit of the Spirit in us gets fully exercised to bear them. Just like after sustained physical exercising, we similarly find our strength increasing after a God-permitted trial. We find that by exercising the Fruit of the Spirit to endure a trial, we have in fact increased the measure of the Fruit of the Spirit in us…as the above-captioned Scripture portion oh, so clearly affirms. As the saying goes…”Proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof”, for with greater measure of the Fruit of the Spirit at the end of each successive trial, more Heavenly, indescribable joy flows in our hearts (1 Peter 1:7-8).
Again I reiterate, our Heavenly Father uses a prickly neighbor, a domineering boss, a fanatical Government, an unsaved or at times saved but an immature family member (Note: all these categories of people constitute those who are right around us… hmmm…Cross bearing entails the cross being very close to us necessarily touching our shoulders, as it were) to ensure that we keep exercising the elements of the Fruit of the Spirit in us continually so that the measure of the same in us (I reiterate) increases progressively. Cross-bearing, by now you would have realized, is synonymous to being a victim of injustice and lies, much like our Lord Himself, at the hands of the people quite close to us. (See Luke 23:23/1 Peter 2:18-23).
Eventually I would have to say that the realization of this truth that cross-bearing is beneficial, is, like all other truths, a liberating experience, for truth liberates (See John 8:31-32).
Reader if you are caught in a debilitating vicious cycle adversely affecting your health, pray that the good Lord, by His redemptive grace, sets you free. Meanwhile, Say Christian, are you caught in a virtuous cycle? Then apply these Scriptural exhortations to your circumstances without complaining:
“And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers…” (Rom 8:28-29 TLB)
“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” (James 1:2-4 TLB)
Prayer: Father, into Thy hands we commit ourselves for we know that You are using all circumstances to make us more like Your Son even our Saviour Jesus Christ. Enable us to draw more of Thy spiritual strength every single time, we face persecutions. In Jesus’ Name.
Suresh Manoharan
Hyderabad-India
J and SM Ministries
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