Tues., 3/12/13 Devotion (Ex. 23:30)

Today's encouragement comes from Exodus 23:30, where we read these words:

"Little by little I will drive them [the Canaanites, et. al.] out from be-fore you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land."

Sanctification is a bit-by-bit process. Whereas justification is an in-stantaneous, one time event--wherein we are regenerated from death to life--sanctification is progressive. We would not want all of Christ's sanctifying blessings in one fell swoop. To so receive them would be to try to drink from a fire hose. Instead, God metes out His growth in His children a piece at a time.

Let us be satisfied with this arrangement; and recognize that it is actually quite merciful. It is good for us to have to learn to fight and defeat a few "Canaanites" every once in a while. If the whole land were forever cleared of them, we might well grow complacent.

[Puritan quote of the day: "If is one mercy for God to love the soul, and another mercy for God to assure the soul of His love." --Thomas Brooks, in, "Heaven on Earth"]