If we really want to help someone grow, we will have to help them in a way that fits their wiring. Our great model for this is God himself, for he always knows just what each person needs.
He had Abraham take a walk, Elijah take a nap, Joshua take a lap, and Adam take the rap. He gave Moses a forty-year time out, he gave David a harp and a dance, and he gave Paul a pen and a scroll. He wrestled with Jacob, argued with Job, whispered to Elijah, warned Cain, and comforted Hagar. He gave Aaron an altar, Miriam a song, Gideon a fleece, Peter a name, and Elisha a mantle. Jesus was stern with the rich young ruler, tender with the woman caught in adultery, patient with the disciples, blistering with the scribes, gentle with the children, and gracious with the thief on the cross.
God never grows two people the same way. God is a hand-crafter, not a mass-producer. And now it is your turn.
God has existed from eternity but he wants to do a new thing with you. The problem many people face when it comes to spiritual growth is that they listen to someone they think of as the expert—maybe even the pastor of their church—talk about what he does, and think that is what they are supposed to do. When it doesn’t work for them—because they are a different person!—they feel guilty and inadequate. They often give up. But spiritual growth is handcrafted, not mass-produced. God does not do “one-size-fits-all.
(The above comment was penned by Pastor John Ortberg and copied as quoted in the book You Lost Me, by David Kinnaman, p216-217.)
P.S. from Yvonne:
Yes, contrary to the popular clothing label, God does not do “one-size-fits-all. For some it may fit, but for others it will surely be too snug or too loose. In Proverbs 22:6, we are exhorted to Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. A study of the Hebrew word picture here indicates that each child is born with different gifts and talents and it is the responsibility of parents to discern such and provide opportunities for their development. Some children have a natural flair for art, or music, or science, or math, or dancing, or athletics—or maybe a combination of gifts and talents. Parents are equally responsible to equip their children with scriptural wisdom (Deut. 6).
Posted 24 September 2012
Musings by Yvonne. Selah! 