February 2007

02.15.2007

ne Parson’s Opinion

There is a bit of misunderstanding (even among the theologically correct group called Baptists) about growth in the Christian life.

It is a simple misunderstanding to correct, but an enlightening insight once you get it.

When my kids were young we would measure how much they had grown during the past year. What I discovered by measuring is that the kids did not grow to their present height all at once. It was a process.

You say, “Jim, that is silly! Growth is a process!” Bingo! (Excuse me for using a gambling term. You know I have been hanging out with Presbyterians and bad company corrupts good morals! Ha!)

But this is the point. Growth in the physical realm and in the spiritual realm is a process.

You may hear some preachers tell you that all of your trouble with temper, lust, hate, envy, jealousy, covetousness, gossip (have I hit you yet?!) will disappear all at once. No, it won’t! You see growth in the Christian life is a process.

At salvation you became a new person! That new person has to grow and develop.

How do you grow? Answer! The Lord grows you as you involve yourself in the disciplines of the Christian life. What are the disciplines? Some of the disciplines are corporate worship, private devotion, prayer, giving, witnessing, and meditating on Scripture.

Let me illustrate. Imagine you have a weakness with materialism. Stuff matters more to you than the Lord or people. What to do? Go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to change you. He will! But it will be a process. One day several years from now stuff will be just stuff.

Remember, brothers and sisters in Jesus, we are in process. Better than we were, but not as good as we are going to be.

See you on the Lord’s Day,
Jim

Posted by arbc at 12:41 PM