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The journey goes on...
Prayer “Unexpected winds of change have blown me To places I had never seen, And I hope the breeze will grow me In ways I’ve never been. No matter where the changes are, As God’s path for me unfolds, I pray that they will lead me Ever closer to His heart.” (Ethne Davis ©2004) |
Growth takes place in everyone’s life, regardless of desire or even personal status. Sometimes
growth is painful and at other times the growth happens so gently that we do not even notice until
we look back in our lives. Growth can come just in time, and it can seem to have come too soon at
other times. Regardless of its timing or the level of pain that it causes, change and growth always
come. Growth tends to change people, though it may take awhile for people to recognize what has
changed and where their growth will take them. In addition, growth can take people anywhere, and
usually does...
Take a couple of minutes to see the difference in yourself in the last year. Take out the journal
you designated for this series and remind yourself of the things you have learned, write about some
of those differences for a little while. Pick one growth area that has really been a struggle for you in
this journey, and write about some of the things you think you could be doing to make it easier. It
can be very easy to become critical of yourself and your progress, especially when you are trying
to unravel damage. Because of this, I suggest you take a little time and journal about three growth
areas where you feel the most encouraged. Take some time to journal about each growth area,
exploring why you feel encouraged in that area and what you can keep doing in order to continue
growing.
Honestly Human
A friend of mine once said that his primary goal in life was “to become a human being, doing the
will of the Father.” I laughed at him at first because it sounded so cliché, but as I began to ponder
the phrase I realized that this should be the goal of every person who professes to believe in Christ.
Do you remember what Jesus said to Martha when she was complaining about Mary “just sitting
there” and “not helping serve”? Jesus told her that Mary had chosen what was better. If you are
anything like me, you came to a screeching halt just now and said “WHAT?!! Jesus must have
been joking!” But He wasn’t. His first concern is for relationship and from that relationship He
wants to flow an action that changes the world. Jesus said the law could be summed up in that you
love the Lord your God with everything you are, and that you love your neighbor as yourself
(Matthew 23:27).
I tend to think of godliness as doing, and it becomes all about my actions. I get all caught up in
what ends up being “spiritual pride,” my mini ministries, holding my tongue, reading my Bible, even
praying with someone who is hurting. Ever done that?
In reality, there was a reason that God created me as a human being and then told me to do. I get
so busy “serving Him” that I forget He loves me, as a human being, as a person. Doing things for
Him doesn’t make me more holy if I have the wrong heart attitude.
He shed His blood so that I could have a relationship with Him, not so that I could become His
pawn, or so that I would spend all my time running around and little to none of it at His feet. I
realize that your situation may be different, and perhaps you aren’t struggling with a right heart
attitude when it comes to your relationship with God. I also realize that at some point you probably
will lose sight of what God is trying to do in your heart.
I would be foolish to suggest that I know the state of your heart. However, perhaps it’s been
awhile since you and God took some time out, or maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve checked
your heart and you’re missing out on better things. Whatever the case is, slow down a minute, and
see where God is at, and if you’re on the same page.
Too often, we get all caught up in making things work the way we want them to, and we lose sight
of what we are supposed to be like as believers. It has been so important in my ministry to others
that I keep six things in mind, and I want to share these with you.
1) Your purpose as a Christ-follower is to become more like Him (Romans 12:1-2).
2) Love is not about condemnation (1 Corinthians 13).
3) Study the word, don’t be afraid to wrestle with the tough stuff, get down and dirty with
Scripture and be honest about the questions and concerns you bring to the table (Psalm 77,
Ecclesiastes)
4) Don’t fool yourself into thinking that studying is enough, if you are learning it should be changing
your life, put what you are studying into practice (James 1:19-25).
5) Nobody knows everything about the Word; test it for yourself (1 Timothy 4:7-12).
6) You were once like those in need of Christ, don’t forget where you were when God found and
claimed you (Ephesians 2).
This is the end of this series, and I’ve been thinking about what last words of wisdom I could leave
with you. Well, I thought a long time, and I prayed even longer, and I must say that I really only
have one thing to leave behind. Okay, are you ready?
Remember that the purpose, the meaning, the relevance of life all comes down to this: to know
Christ, and to make Him known (Psalm 89:1, Romans 11:33-35). What does that mean for you?
Go back and study the life and ministry of Christ, model yourself after Him: Live the gospel, speak
the gospel. Christ created you with all kinds of potential, but He also created you to be in
relationship with Him and other humans. It can be easy to blame God for your trials, yet at the
same time if you are not human; you alienate the rest of humankind. Don’t lose sight of who you
were, but keep your eyes fixed on who He is and who He wants you to become.
growth is painful and at other times the growth happens so gently that we do not even notice until
we look back in our lives. Growth can come just in time, and it can seem to have come too soon at
other times. Regardless of its timing or the level of pain that it causes, change and growth always
come. Growth tends to change people, though it may take awhile for people to recognize what has
changed and where their growth will take them. In addition, growth can take people anywhere, and
usually does...
Take a couple of minutes to see the difference in yourself in the last year. Take out the journal
you designated for this series and remind yourself of the things you have learned, write about some
of those differences for a little while. Pick one growth area that has really been a struggle for you in
this journey, and write about some of the things you think you could be doing to make it easier. It
can be very easy to become critical of yourself and your progress, especially when you are trying
to unravel damage. Because of this, I suggest you take a little time and journal about three growth
areas where you feel the most encouraged. Take some time to journal about each growth area,
exploring why you feel encouraged in that area and what you can keep doing in order to continue
growing.
Honestly Human
A friend of mine once said that his primary goal in life was “to become a human being, doing the
will of the Father.” I laughed at him at first because it sounded so cliché, but as I began to ponder
the phrase I realized that this should be the goal of every person who professes to believe in Christ.
Do you remember what Jesus said to Martha when she was complaining about Mary “just sitting
there” and “not helping serve”? Jesus told her that Mary had chosen what was better. If you are
anything like me, you came to a screeching halt just now and said “WHAT?!! Jesus must have
been joking!” But He wasn’t. His first concern is for relationship and from that relationship He
wants to flow an action that changes the world. Jesus said the law could be summed up in that you
love the Lord your God with everything you are, and that you love your neighbor as yourself
(Matthew 23:27).
I tend to think of godliness as doing, and it becomes all about my actions. I get all caught up in
what ends up being “spiritual pride,” my mini ministries, holding my tongue, reading my Bible, even
praying with someone who is hurting. Ever done that?
In reality, there was a reason that God created me as a human being and then told me to do. I get
so busy “serving Him” that I forget He loves me, as a human being, as a person. Doing things for
Him doesn’t make me more holy if I have the wrong heart attitude.
He shed His blood so that I could have a relationship with Him, not so that I could become His
pawn, or so that I would spend all my time running around and little to none of it at His feet. I
realize that your situation may be different, and perhaps you aren’t struggling with a right heart
attitude when it comes to your relationship with God. I also realize that at some point you probably
will lose sight of what God is trying to do in your heart.
I would be foolish to suggest that I know the state of your heart. However, perhaps it’s been
awhile since you and God took some time out, or maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve checked
your heart and you’re missing out on better things. Whatever the case is, slow down a minute, and
see where God is at, and if you’re on the same page.
Too often, we get all caught up in making things work the way we want them to, and we lose sight
of what we are supposed to be like as believers. It has been so important in my ministry to others
that I keep six things in mind, and I want to share these with you.
1) Your purpose as a Christ-follower is to become more like Him (Romans 12:1-2).
2) Love is not about condemnation (1 Corinthians 13).
3) Study the word, don’t be afraid to wrestle with the tough stuff, get down and dirty with
Scripture and be honest about the questions and concerns you bring to the table (Psalm 77,
Ecclesiastes)
4) Don’t fool yourself into thinking that studying is enough, if you are learning it should be changing
your life, put what you are studying into practice (James 1:19-25).
5) Nobody knows everything about the Word; test it for yourself (1 Timothy 4:7-12).
6) You were once like those in need of Christ, don’t forget where you were when God found and
claimed you (Ephesians 2).
This is the end of this series, and I’ve been thinking about what last words of wisdom I could leave
with you. Well, I thought a long time, and I prayed even longer, and I must say that I really only
have one thing to leave behind. Okay, are you ready?
Remember that the purpose, the meaning, the relevance of life all comes down to this: to know
Christ, and to make Him known (Psalm 89:1, Romans 11:33-35). What does that mean for you?
Go back and study the life and ministry of Christ, model yourself after Him: Live the gospel, speak
the gospel. Christ created you with all kinds of potential, but He also created you to be in
relationship with Him and other humans. It can be easy to blame God for your trials, yet at the
same time if you are not human; you alienate the rest of humankind. Don’t lose sight of who you
were, but keep your eyes fixed on who He is and who He wants you to become.
| “Although the threads of my life have often seemed knotted, I know, by faith, that on the other side of the embroidery there is a crown.” -Corrie ten Boom- |
| Having trouble finding things in your concordance? Click here Need some more in-depth Bible help? Click here Want to look up the meaning of words, or find related words? Click here Want an exercise that might help build life goals? Click here Questions, comments, suggestions about this series or others? Click here |
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