We value speed today far more than we realize, and that makes the painfully slow
process of our sanctification and personal
transformation confusing and frustrating. - P178
We live in an era of such rapid technological advancement and in a society that so
values efficiency, productivity, and immediate results that we can hardly help but
assume that the faster things happen, the better. - P178
Therefore, we often do not value
the precious benefits of slow growth. - P178
God designed us to develop habits of obedience and holiness slowly and incre-mentally because the process teaches and trains us to live by faith rather thanby our often inaccurate perceptions and emotions. - P180
The waiting teaches us to trust more in
the truth of what God says than the impulses of what we see or how we feel. - P180
God‘s ways with us may not seem
efficient to us. We might even think they
are needlessly slow and inefficient. - P180
But none of God‘s ways are needless, and God is not slow; He is patient (2 Pet. 3:9). - P180
Laban‘s conflict with Jacob could have easily escalated but realizing that he might
never see his daughters again, Laban makes the wise decision to offer a truce in the
form of a covenant. - P54
Jacob agrees and sets up a pillar and
a heap of stones to serve as witnesses. - P54
As Christians, weshould seek peace with all people where possible, especially with
otherbelievers. When we settle a conflict with a brother or sister, we must
remember that God is a witness to that
agreement and will hold each party to
account. - P54
Therefore, our repentance must be genuine and our forgiveness unconditional. - P54
There is no aspect of life that lies beyond
the gaze of our heavenly Father.
In all our dealings in the world, God
watches over us. - P54
When Laban and Jacob make their vows according to ancient custom,
it becomes clear that Laban does not, in fact, worship the same God asJacob. - P54
His mentions the God of Abraham but also includes the deitiesof Abraham‘s brother and father-the household that Abraham leftbehind when the Lord called him to Canaan. - P54
Jacob, on the other hand,
knows better: he takes his oath in the name of the God of his father,
Isaac. - P54
We might find ourselves in similar situations where people ac-knowledge our God as just one of many other gods. - P54
Though our beliefs may not be popular
, let us hold fast to the truth of Scripture
and confessthat we serve the one,
true God. - P54
"The gods of moralistic religions favor the successful and the overachievers.
... But the God of the Bible is the one who comes down into this world toaccomplish a salvation and give us a grace we could never attain ourselves."
- Timothy Keller - P54
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