Today’s exhortation – no shortcuts!
I believe that quite often, the work God does in us before He uses is a slow process and the devil will always come to offer a shortcut. These shortcuts are traps that come with a lot of pain and heartache. Abraham had to wait 25 years before he was blessed with the son of promise Isaac, but he took a shortcut in the 13th year by having Ismael with his servant instead of his wife and till this day there’s conflict between Ismael and Isaac’s children. Moses tried to lead Israel too early as a 40 year old when he killed an Egyptian to protect his people. He too paid the price by having to ran away from all he knew and live in the wilderness for another 40 years before God used him.
Joseph had his first shortcut offered to him by the devil through Portipher’s wife when she asked him to have sex with her. (Genesis 39:8-10). Joseph was wise and refused her advances. He could have used that as his meal ticket out of where he was, but he didn’t. If we want to experience the fullness of what God has for us too, then we must learn to wait! No shortcuts! We don’t have to lie or cheat to get what we want. Those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) Amen!
Francis Hans-Jorie