God's Whittling
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son…”~ Rom.8:29
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him…”~ 1 Jn. 3:2
One definition of the word whittle is to reduce in size gradually by cutting off bits with a knife. We’d say, “Cutting one down to size.” The more the whittling, the smaller the object. You know, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”~ 1 Jn. 3:30
God’s predestined plan, says Paul, is that those in the Body of Christ be conformed to His lovely Son!
There is much talk among professing Christians today on their desire to be Christ-like. But strangely they seem to become muted on the subject when God puts the knife to their lives. When He begins cutting away things that they cherish and esteem highly.
They seem to shudder with fear when they see their Husbandman coming their way, with the pruning knife in His hand. It is a time of less and more-less of things and people and more of Him!
“Am I not enough, enough mine own, for thee?”~ Quote from A.W. Tozer