Now & LaterSample

In the old movie The Karate Kid, a wise karate master teaches a young student karate by having him do repetitive physical chores. The student thinks it’s a waste of time, but the chores were training him to the point that they became karate moves. In the movie, the student didn’t understand or realize how the chores were preparing him for a better future, but he chose to trust his karate master anyway. 

Similarly, today’s verse from Philippians assures us that God is working in us now so that we can fulfill His good purpose in the future. In other words, the trials and challenges we’re facing in life today are often preparing us for life later—even if we can’t always see it or don’t always realize it.

Ask a parent or adult if they’ve ever had a “karate kid” moment in their life when God used something mundane or unexpected to prepare them for something ahead.