Know Before You Grow
What is the one thing we as Christ-followers need to know before we can grow into mature Christ-followers? As I have titled this posting, you need to know before you can grow. As I was reading in Hebrews chapter 5: 11-14 it says…
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
In verse 14 it says “to distinguish good from evil”. Are you having a problem growing and reaching the next level in your spiritual walk? If so, maybe you are still struggling with the same “elementary” things the Jewish Christ-followers were during their time…In Hebrews chapter 6:1 it refers to the elementary teaching as learning the foundation of repentance (regret for any past action) from acts that lead to death and faith in God.
Maybe your struggle to get to the next level in your spiritual walk is due to you not applying the above basics to your own daily walk with Christ. Maybe you are reluctant to move past the “religious” tradition you have learned in the past. Maybe you are still trying to blend in with your old life and friends and are not 100% committed to doing away with sinful activity in your life. There will come a time when you will have to move outside of your comfort zones because commitment to Christ does move His children outside of their comfort zone.
Getting to Green and Getting to God?
This year the “going green” push is big on college campuses and the theme has caught a lot of attention with corporations who are really making this a push in their advertising and marketing efforts. Four years ago, this topic of green was just starting to emerge, but it was still on the outside fringe of popularity. Today, “going green” has hit our society in a huge way. The Oscars went green, the Superbowl went green, major league baseball is going green, TV, tourism, hotels, Microsoft, Dell, Walmart, restaurants, airlines, clothing, grocery stores, major retailers, construction companies and yes even coffins. (http://www.environmentalcaskets.com)
As I pondered this idea of “going green”, I started getting a bit annoyed at the magnitude of the whole thing. Don’t get me wrong, I think these things are great ideas and certainly we as responsible human beings need to be doing them to preserve our environment. What I am annoyed about is the passion, attention and public space this is getting. Just think about it, we have given more of our time, talent and treasure (dollars) to preserve the environment then to things with eternal value. What I am struggling with is the thought of how one movement gets such attention and popularity while other movements get no attention or resources at all.
