November 12–Come On! 

Happy Tuesday. I don’t know if it’s cold where you are, but here in SW Missouri, we are frigid! Yesterday we had rain, then sleet, then snow and a morning temperature of 11 (-12 C). If I did what I wanted to do, I’d stay home in front of the fire with my blanket and not leave until it was warm again. But alas, I have obligations and expectations that come with being an adult, so regardless of the discomfort, I will get ready and go. That’s what it means to act like a mature person—doing the things you know you should do. Much like the author of Hebrews tries to explain in chapter six. 


“So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:1-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬


Here in the 6th chapter of Hebrews (as in the 5th), we are told in no uncertain terms that we need to grow up. It time to quit focusing of the alphabet and start reading the words. Scripture is already clear on the basic things that we have been studying since we came to know Christ. We don’t need to try to modify this holy foundation, come up with a newer, more modern, or even a do-it-ourselves kind of salvation. We know the basics, they are set. Now, it’s time to stand on those basics and climb a little higher. 


If we can begin to try to understand what God’s heart is like, we can move toward being more like Him. Sometimes we just want to spiritually “lay on the couch and binge watch Hallmark”, but we must consider all that He has done for us to reach maturity and not squander that so recklessly. The road to Christlikeness is through reading, meditating and applying God’s word to our life, not wallowing in the easy. But it also depends on listening and doing.When the mind and heart change and begin to mature, when we begin to heed the Spirit’s nudging, our behaviour and habits become Christlike. So...come on, quit with the fingerprints and pick up a brush!  


Spirit of the Living God, fall on us anew, teach us your ways and help us to continually stretch to new levels of maturity. We ask you Lord for a burning desire to know you more and to walk ever closer to you. We want to be in lock-step with you so that we hear even the slightest whispers of your voice. Call us to you and as we keep our focus centered, and work toward holiness. We pray those around us will see the evidence of you in our lives and we will be able to draw others to you. We love you and we praise you this day. Surround us with your presence. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one, 

Pam




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 17, 2020

Happy Friday. It’s the end of another week and we have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us and sometimes that takes quite a bit of effort. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always anxious to embrace others and really listen to them or share with them (especially those who I don’t know well). Sometimes, I just look at them and think “Are you for real?” I don’t always agree with people over politics, sports or of course, religion. And let’s face it, we’d rather spend time with people we like and mostly agree.  And then I read my Bible. God hasn’t called us to sit in our little groups with only those we naturally gravitate towards, but to love people—all people, even those who aren’t necessarily loveable. In this passage, Paul writing to the people of Colosse remarks on how wonderful it is that they truly love others. That love must have really been something over and above the normal and he tells them that it is evident that it comes from the Holy Sp
Read more

January 15, 2020

Happy Wednesday to you. I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I went to Sams. I was out of things like trash bags, toilet paper, and chicken, so off I went. I like going to Sams because there is always lots to look at and the isles are nice and wide. Everytime I’m there, I am amazed at how much stuff and everything from diapers to TVs to mangos to beds. It just seems incredible that so many things in such quantities are all under one roof.  King David never saw a store with as much stuff aa Sams of course, but he did see countless miracles and understand that God has plans. He knew from creation and history that he was serving a God of miracles and he know that God loved him and his people and would take care of them. He was amazed and awe-struck by the fact that a God who had done such great and mighty things not only cared about his people but that He loved them with such a great love.  “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can co
Read more

January 9, 2020

It’s Thursday and I woke up to the blowing wind! Lots of it—I’m dreading Boomer waking up and having to go outside with him. That harsh, bitter wind seems cruel and almost evil. But I’ll wrap myself up with a fe layers and boots and brave it all.  Sometimes I think we try to do that with things we know aren’t right—things that are evil. We try to wrap ourselves up and just wade into it, but Paul tells us we should reject it—stay away from it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:20-24‬ NIV When he wrote this he’d been in Berea and the Christians there diligently searched the scriptures to make sure everything Paul said was in line. Paul here is encouraging the Thessalonians to
Read more