28

Day 28 It Takes Time

Everything on earth has its own time

and its own season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CEV)

I am sure that God who began the good work

within you will keep right on helping you grow

in his grace until his task within you is finally

finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Philippians. 1:6 (LB)

There are no shortcuts to maturity.

It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full

season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit

of the Spirit. The development of Christlike character cannot be

rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time.

When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavor. In

America, tomatoes are usually picked unripened so they won’t

bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold,

these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO 2 gas to turn them red

instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to

the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature

slowly.

PURPOSE #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ 217