The Bible does not teach instant transformation into maturity in Christ. I am thankful for Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. This completion can sure take a long time!  I am glad that Christ has been so very patient in dealing with my unwillingness to be corrected.

I love how Hebrews 2:15 describes how Jesus helps me with this. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

When I refuse correction it really means I have an unsubmissive heart.

And the Hebrews scripture makes me ponder how Jesus would be tempted to be unsubmissive, yet without sinning in it.

As he grew up Jesus would need to be obedient to his parents. Since Jesus never sinned, that means he submitted and obeyed 100% of the time. I can imagine the teen aged Jesus may have been tempted to say to his parents “Excuse me, I am the Son of God. I don’t have to obey your house rules.”  Nope, he always obeyed.

I know that Jesus is personally interceding on behalf of my weaknesses, including my own temptation to be unsubmissive. And for whatever weaknesses he is dealing with in YOUR life.

Coming to Jesus did NOT mean that my resistance to correction was instantly killed. But here’s the beauty of life in Christ: God has been faithful and patient with me for decades even when I have been so slow to see things.  But over time, I am quicker to admit that I am wrong and quicker to stop being defensive when it is pointed out (you can ask my wife!) God IS faithful to complete the good work he started in me — and in you!

• How We Grow