…THAT I MAY…BECOME MORE DEEPLY AND INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM…’ PHILIPPIANS 3:10 AMP Spiritual depth
Storms reveal the depth and resilience of a tree’s root system. When hard times come we need more than just intelligence; we need spiritual depth, the kind Job the patriarch had. When the bottom dropped out of his world, Job said: ‘ “…When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” ’ (Job 23:10-12 NAS). We need the spiritual depth of Paul, who prayed three times for the horrible stake in his flesh to leave (the word translated ‘thorn’ sometimes referred to a pointed instrument, like a spear), and three times the Lord said ‘no’. In response, Paul said, ‘…most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJ). Instead of looking for a way out, or throwing a pity party, Paul declared, ‘I choose to go through this so that I can have the privilege of experiencing more of Christ’s power working in my life’(Paraphrase). What spiritual depth! Don’t you want what these people had, so that your spiritual life is such that you walk in step with God whether you feel good or not; whether you get a ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘wait,’ in answer to your prayers; even when you don’t get your own way? Spiritual depth cannot be caught by osmosis, or merely be something on your wish list. It must become your all-consuming goal, and the highest priority of your life. Is it?