by David Brenneman
"Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." Hebrews 5:11-14.
"Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27.
"Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment." Hebrews 6:1-2.
Much has been said by many of the weakness in many who attend various churches. Churches, to be clear, that are not teaching the way of salvation. Not teaching the whole counsel of God. These types of places ought to be avoided at all costs.
We are supposed to be engaged with the Spirit to learn and grow in Christ. We cannot do this alone. Both common sense and the Scriptures teach us that it cannot be done.
Those who aren't growing in Christ likely aren't mainly because they're not pursuing what God's pursuing in their lives....which is their sanctification.
We cannot say we're part of the family of God if we're not associating with the family of God.
We cannot say we're growing in Christ if we're not daily in His Word to know what it is He's wanting to teach us...and we NEED to be taught!
We cannot know the things of God without being taught. We cannot know how to fully please God without spending a dedicated amount of time with God.
Do we really think it will go well to stand before Jesus some day, likely very soon, and have nothing to show for our time on Earth as one of His disciples, one of His fellow heirs?
There's those who claim to be doing all kinds of things in the name of Jesus apart from a life with Jesus in a Bible believing, Bible preaching church. A great deal of that relationship that Jesus refers to after He separates those who are His sheep from those who are not is just that. They had a viable, tangible, real relationship with Jesus while those who did all sorts of things without Christ...did not.
Are you feeling the conviction?
It always hurts to be called out but my Dear Reader it's much much better to have it done now while you can do something about it rather than learn later that you wish someone had.
We can easily claim that we didn't have time to spend time in our Bibles but we always find time for videos, for movies, for football games, baseball games, reading books, listening to music, parties, television, game systems, there's no end to the things we can and do put ahead of our growing in Christ.
We can even make an excuse of being heavily involved with family and friends ahead of that quality time with Jesus.
Jesus, read it for yourself, often got away with His Disciples from the people. Jesus often got up early to just be with His Dad, our Father in Heaven. Jesus made the time. Jesus made the sacrifice. We're supposed to be following in His steps with this.
Would you really want to try excuses with Jesus when you stand before Him knowing that He already knows every atom of every detail of what really happened?
Take the time to form a dedicated time to be with Jesus. If that time slot comes and goes, sacrifice what you must to still be in the Word of God. We cannot let our guard down or that saying of the world will apply to Satan's minions and would be as you read at the beginning of this post. Give them an inch and they will take a mile.
Addtionally you live out your growth in Christ by your giving. Been blessed? Don't spend it on yourself before looking to see who it is you're to bless in return. Been abundantly blessed? Don't hang on to it, but seek out whom you may bless. If God so blessed you in this way don't you think He can do it again?
Your faith will grow as it's excercised not as it sits dormant.
Be in Prayer, Be in the Word of God. Get away from the world to be doing both. Personally I often lose some sleep because things happen in my day that sometimes push my training/study time with the Spirit farther into the night. I haven't missed a day since beginning this line of study/learning since I started January 1st, 2025.
We're to be committed to our Savior's plans not just for humanity but His plans for each of us.
Grow in Christ, stand firm, keep the whole armor of God on at all times.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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