LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Thessalonians 1:3, We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

 

It is worth taking the time to examine where we are on the narrow way as we walk toward eternity in God’s kingdom. Each of us is on a different place on this way; where we are has much to do with the amount of faith we have. In the last page of the blog, I wrote that God gave us each the same amount of faith when we were saved. The question for each of us is about our faith today. I ask you to consider if your faith is growing? Is it bigger today than it was last week, last month, last year, or since you gave your life to Jesus Christ? Is your ability to believe greater today than it once was? Your faith, your spiritual maturity, should be growing continually; as written yesterday, the love you have for others indicates growing faith (according to the verse above).

 

We need to think about some indications of spiritual immaturity or remaining in the measure of faith God gave each of us. 1 Corinthians 3:2-3, “I fed you with milk and not solid food; for until now you were unable to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal [not spiritually mature]. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” Babies are self-centered and only concerned about their own needs being met (the Kingdom of Self); they can only handle a basic understanding of God’s Word. Because of that, they have only a basic understanding of its meaning. Mature people meet the needs of others and grow in their understanding of the Word.  When the verse in 1 Corinthians says one is envious it means the person lives for the slap-on-the-back from others and become jealous of others when he/she gets applause. Envious people become bitter. One who has grown spiritually (faith) does not need to receive the approval of men because serving God is their concern. Strife means a person is right in the center of a fight sowing disagreement and tension. The Christian, growing in their faith, will be doing all he/she can to bring unity into every situation.

 

To become mature spiritually and to grow in your faith, you must die to self. That means you must make an effort to fully overcome the sinful nature that is in you (again the Kingdom of Self); you must stop behaving in a worldly or unspiritual manner. By continuing to live this way, you are not growing in grace. It is time to grow up! Start taking God’s Word with utmost seriousness!

 

Here is the danger for worldly Christians (Is that an oxymoron?). There is terrible deception in the world today – greater than ever before. Jesus said false teachers and deception would abound in the last days. He was right! One who has not grown in their faith is in danger of being deceived and led astray from a sincere devotion to Jesus Christ. They are in danger of being more and more conformed with the world. Being unwilling to put to death the sinful nature with all its desires and appetites is a dangerous way to live in the days we are living. Let me be straightforward – no one can give attention to Satan, his lies, and the things of this world and participate in the things of the Lord at the same time! Again, its time to grow up in Your faith and walk with Jesus! Separate and purify yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and grow in the holiness of God.

 

The time of the trumpet sound seems to be so near, sounding for the faithful followers of Jesus to join Him in the clouds. I do not want any who read this to miss out! There seems to be an urgency to speak and write truth! By the way, each of us needs to continue growing in our faith. Tomorrow, I will make some suggestions about how we can do that.