Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

I still remember years ago when I heard someone speak on this verse, pointing out that as far as the text goes, these good things seem to have happened as a direct consequence of getting Paul out of the way! He was still called Saul at this point, and though he was obviously flaming with zeal, he didn’t have the maturity that he later displayed. He was not yet good at keeping quiet, and it was something he needed to learn. Evidently his time in Arabia, mentioned in Galatians 1:17, happened either after verse 22 or more probably after verse 25. That was without question a valuable time of learning intimacy with God, but he still had to learn things about getting along with people. The whole point of this to me is that even Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, had to grow, both spiritually and emotionally. Paul himself came to understand this very well, as he expressed beautifully and famously in Philippians 3:12-14. We are never to think we have “arrived,” or don’t need to improve in various areas, but rather accept what the Lord allows us to experience as valuable training for whatever the Lord has for us next. It might not be fun at the time, but the results will be good if we are submitted to God in it, and we need to be thankful. (Hebrews 12:11)

At 65 I am as aware as I have ever been, if not more, of my need for further growth. Philippians 3:12-14 is daily reality for me. At the same time, as a pastor I am called on to counsel and guide others who haven’t spent as much time in God’s classroom as I have. I am not to hesitate to share what I have been shown, sometimes through painful experience, but I am never to come across as having all the answers myself. God has all the answers, and I am to share what He shows me, but I am to be honest about what I don’t know. My goal, as Paul said in Colossians 1:28, is to “present everyone perfect in Christ.” I can’t accomplish that in my own strength and wisdom, certainly, but God can use me in the process, and I am to keep myself available. (Colossians 1:29)

Father, thank You yet again for Your amazing patience with me. Help me exercise that same patience toward those with whom I work, that I may not “break” them or “snuff them out,” (Matthew 12:20) but rather lead them into all that You have prepared for them in Christ, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!