Are You Still Growing?

Daily Reading: Hebrews 5-6

Scripture Focus: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food (Hebrews 5.12)

Devotional Thought: As a young man – a recent college graduate who was settling into adulthood – I was selected to serve as the youth Sunday school teacher.  Though I was indeed young – probably about 23 at the time – I had been a Christian for 8 or 9 years.  By this time, what else should I have been?  Sadly, I turned down the nomination, explaining to the pastor, “I don’t feel like I am where I need to be spiritually.”  The Holy Spirit began working on me, saying to me, “Then, Scott, get where you need to be.”  I thought the solution was to decline the position.  The real solution was to live up to my full potential in Christ!  I went back to the pastor and told him that if the job was still open, I would do it!  I’m glad that the Holy Spirit taught me that many, many years ago. 

The best deterrence against falling away is to keep growing in the Lord.

How about you?  Ask yourself, “What should I be by this time?”  Too often, we sell the Holy Spirit short by believing that we can’t grow strong in the Lord.  We say that we can’t do such and such or we’re not ready to do it, when really he is able to give us all the power and grace we need to do it!  What should you be, by this time, in your small group?  By this time, in the local church?  By this time, as the spiritual leader of your home?  By this time, as a tither?

Keep growing in the Lord!  Not only will you be better equipped to serve others, you will protect yourself from falling away!

Prayer: Forgive me, Lord, for not growing to my full potential in you.  I want to serve you with unhindered spirit and unclouded heart.  If necessary teach me once again the basics of the faith so that I can move on to solid food.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 48.1-8

1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,

2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.

3 Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

4 For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.

5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.

6 Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.

7 By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah