June 7

"l have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content." Philippians 4:11

Paul was one who not only knew Christ, but had had Christ wrought into his very being through the testings of time. "I have learned," he says, and the context refers to experiences of physical want. Through such experiences, which took time, there was a progressive but a quite definite change in his character.

And this is what we ourselves need; net only exchanged lives, where it is no longer I but Christ, but changed lives. Of course we cannot have the second without the first, but God does indeed want the second. He wants a real transformation in us.

Let us not misunderstand God’s ways with us. If he uses special trials and testings, it is for a special purpose. A valuable vessel or a well-finished tool cannot be produced without a high price being paid. Only poor quality goods can be produced cheaply.