This is a statement I value highly, straight from mouth of my pastor, Desmond Singh:

It takes stormy waters to produce skilled sailors.

It is not academic knowledge, though this has its place, but the experience that God takes a man through, that molds and shapes his character.  It is the rough roads, the jagged paths and the disappointments that work together for the good of faithful disciple.  It is the road less traveled and less desired, but the end results are a stability and confidence in God that cannot be broken.

I can’t remember where I read it a long time ago, but one observer commented that the entire Old Testament reveals Israel’s inability to be inwardly what they professed to be outwardly.  Religion never ceased or lost strength for a moment, even though there were times when the people had long since abandoned God in their hearts.  It was a terrible blindness that led to missing out on their calling.  When this happened, it affected how they lived day-to-day and how they treated one another.

The real power of God’s word word is evidenced when it is put into practice in the lives of those who claim to follow Him.  This is the story of the New Testament to a large degree.  It is an area that we all stumble in, yet hopefully grow into – at least according to the measure of grace He’s given us.  I would go so far as to say that is impossible to walk in the light of God’s word without His power and grace.  At the end of the day, what we hear of the word of God is intended to generate a likeness to the Lord Jesus.  What does this mean?

How we see God and how we treat others is really the measure.  I like what the Apostle Paul has to say here (Philippians 2):

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Basically, if we claim to have been encouraged by being adopted into the family of God though we were completely undeserving, shouldn’t this translate into something?  He doesn’t just leave us there to wonder, “Well, what should I be like?” (Notice, in this case, he doesn’t give us something to do, but rather be):

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Stunning.  He was in heaven, then humbled himself, becoming a man.  Not only a man, but a Servant.  Not only a Servant, but He came to die.  Not only to die, but die one of the worst deaths imaginable – all while carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders.  Is there any wonder why He has been exalted so highly?

May what we have received as a result translate into our hearts, overflowing in the way we live our lives… at home… at work… at school… wherever.  We have been made stewards of the grace of God (1 Pet 4:10).  Let us remember that a steward does own what he has been placed over, but has been put in a position of responsibility over it.  It is our job to reflect the grace that God has shown to us to the world around us.