One Thing Leads to Another

Here’s a link to last week’s installment in the series, “One Thing Leads to Another”.

Today, Seed Basket reflects on a passage that shows how a believer’s life has purpose. Every step leads to the next one chosen by God’s design.

Some steps proceed through orderly, seemingly uneventful days.

Some wander through periods of personal grief and sorrow.

And there are days of delightful joy when shadows are chased away by God’s loving, undeserved embrace.

But can you believe that steps taken even in suffocating darkness, are steps meant to lead us to the blessing of a rich relationship with God?

Every step is meant to draw us deeper into the character of our Father.

You will notice the photos for today’s devotional feature the oyster.

The life of this creature illustrates how irritation and pain eventually produce a thing of beauty.

A grain of sand

Even the walls of his inner shell develop the Mother of Pearl nacre that can form a priceless pearl.

Do you know that the more light that penetrates the shell, the more lustrous the pearl will be?

In a spiritual sense, the more of God’s holy light that enters the life of a Christian, the more we reflect His holiness and radiance.

God has planned our steps, knowing the right amount of joy, irritation, trouble, and patience needed for our growth, and importantly, what it takes to lead us to repentance and faith.

We have been made right with God because of our faith.

So, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Through our faith Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy.

And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. 

Romans 5:1 & 2 (ICB)

Every step in a follower’s life has a purpose and a plan designed by God. There is a plan for you to serve and honor God.

And we also have joy with our troubles

because we know that these troubles produce patience. 

And patience produces character,

and character produces hope. 

Romans 5:3 & 4 (ICB)

suffering produces perseverance

For those who truly follow Jesus, we learn that our struggles help us develop patience. In this peaceful patience, chaos cannot disturb our connection with God. It continually reveals more of God’s goodness. His goodness reassures us of His unwavering truth and the proof that His promises never fail.

hope doesn’t disappoint

But the most important thing is the unfailing promise of our salvation, when we believe, confess our weakness and sin, turn from the old way of living and follow Jesus.

One thing leads to another…

joy of our salvation – trouble – patience – Godly character – hope revealed

“And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts. God gave us his love through the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us.”

Romans 5:5

International Children’s Bible (ICB)

The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.