- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
So far so good! (1)
'AS THE SPIRIT...WORKS WITHIN US, WE BECOME...LIKE HIM.' 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
Are you pushing to become more like Jesus but some days it feels like two steps forward and three back? Growing up spiritually isn't easy; that's why Paul encourages us not to 'let ourselves lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary' (Galatians 6:9 NAS).
You don't notice yourself growing older physically 'til you look at an earlier photo, then it hits you. It's the same with spiritual growth; it's hard to gauge how far you've come 'til you look back and see where you were before Jesus saved you and turned your life around. The Bible says, 'As the Spirit...works within us, we become more...like him', but growing up involves growing pains! Also, you must never forget that you're on a spiritual journey, you're going places and you're making progress.
While ever you're on the highway of holiness the devil will be looking for ways to distract you and divert you or he'll try to dishearten you by pointing out how far you still have to go. Don't listen to him and don't give up! Jesus said: 'there is no truth in him...he is a liar and the father of lies and all that is false' (John 8:44 AMP).
If you get discouraged and give up, satan wins. Paul says, 'lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ' (See 2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP). Learn to live beyond your feelings, to dig down inside to where God's Spirit lives. Take heart! It may not always feel like it but every day you're maturing and growing stronger in Christ. So don't even think about throwing in the towel!
So far so good! (2)
'Before I formed you...I...approved of you.' JEREMIAH 1:5
Spiritually speaking, you're probably not as far along the road as you'd like to be; but thank God you're still on the road! At one time you were a stranger to God's unstoppable unconditional love, now your part of the family!
Paul writes: 'You received the word...not as the word of men, but...the word of God, which...effectively works in you who believe' (1Thessalonians 2:13 NKJ). Did you get that? As long as you keep believing it, God's Word will keep working in you.
Plus, you'll mature faster when you stop being so hard on yourself, learn to relax and start living by what God's Word says about you; not how you feel! How you see yourself affects your spiritual progress. Until the way you see yourself lines up with God's view of you, as revealed in His Word, you'll keep seeing yourself as inferior and unworthy and that will hold back your spiritual growth.
Nobody knows you like God does. And in spite of your struggles and stumbling, He loves and accepts you just as you are. God told Jeremiah, 'Before I formed you...I knew...and approved of you.' Stop worrying about being rejected when you don't 'perform' perfectly.
The world operates like that but not God. Plus, if you were as perfect as you'd like to be you wouldn't need His grace, right? Check out Genesis 32:22 and read about Jacob's limp, sometimes God leaves weaknesses in us to remind us how much we need Him each day. So enjoy where you are now and don't compare yourself with other people. Don't worry if they're further along than you. They went through the same places to get to where they are today.
written by Bob Gass
'AS THE SPIRIT...WORKS WITHIN US, WE BECOME...LIKE HIM.' 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
Are you pushing to become more like Jesus but some days it feels like two steps forward and three back? Growing up spiritually isn't easy; that's why Paul encourages us not to 'let ourselves lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary' (Galatians 6:9 NAS).
You don't notice yourself growing older physically 'til you look at an earlier photo, then it hits you. It's the same with spiritual growth; it's hard to gauge how far you've come 'til you look back and see where you were before Jesus saved you and turned your life around. The Bible says, 'As the Spirit...works within us, we become more...like him', but growing up involves growing pains! Also, you must never forget that you're on a spiritual journey, you're going places and you're making progress.
While ever you're on the highway of holiness the devil will be looking for ways to distract you and divert you or he'll try to dishearten you by pointing out how far you still have to go. Don't listen to him and don't give up! Jesus said: 'there is no truth in him...he is a liar and the father of lies and all that is false' (John 8:44 AMP).
If you get discouraged and give up, satan wins. Paul says, 'lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ' (See 2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP). Learn to live beyond your feelings, to dig down inside to where God's Spirit lives. Take heart! It may not always feel like it but every day you're maturing and growing stronger in Christ. So don't even think about throwing in the towel!
So far so good! (2)
'Before I formed you...I...approved of you.' JEREMIAH 1:5
Spiritually speaking, you're probably not as far along the road as you'd like to be; but thank God you're still on the road! At one time you were a stranger to God's unstoppable unconditional love, now your part of the family!
Paul writes: 'You received the word...not as the word of men, but...the word of God, which...effectively works in you who believe' (1Thessalonians 2:13 NKJ). Did you get that? As long as you keep believing it, God's Word will keep working in you.
Plus, you'll mature faster when you stop being so hard on yourself, learn to relax and start living by what God's Word says about you; not how you feel! How you see yourself affects your spiritual progress. Until the way you see yourself lines up with God's view of you, as revealed in His Word, you'll keep seeing yourself as inferior and unworthy and that will hold back your spiritual growth.
Nobody knows you like God does. And in spite of your struggles and stumbling, He loves and accepts you just as you are. God told Jeremiah, 'Before I formed you...I knew...and approved of you.' Stop worrying about being rejected when you don't 'perform' perfectly.
The world operates like that but not God. Plus, if you were as perfect as you'd like to be you wouldn't need His grace, right? Check out Genesis 32:22 and read about Jacob's limp, sometimes God leaves weaknesses in us to remind us how much we need Him each day. So enjoy where you are now and don't compare yourself with other people. Don't worry if they're further along than you. They went through the same places to get to where they are today.
written by Bob Gass
