About this 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 need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
Recently came back from visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The family is currently training our granddaughter how to use the toilet. She is two-and-half years old and plans to start attending nursery school in the fall. But, she needs to be potty trained before acceptance.
This weekend, she was at the stage of being aware of the need. Yet lacked the willpower to stop what she was doing to take care of business. So, the adults in the room would always check-in with her whenever she began to twitch. At first she would ignore the reminder and continue her play. Other times, she would agree and rush to the bathroom.
It is a process we all had to learn. Some of us quickly pick it up. Others take longer. The same can be said about our walk with Jesus.
Initially, we hear the good news. We begin to investigate. We read material from third-party sources. Then we begin to read the Bible ourselves. Like other material we read and master, we begin to practice its teachings. But somewhere we hit the spiritual wall. Our lives are still a mesh. We become frustrated with our growth. We become tired of pushing ourselves away from the temptations. We become confused through all the various influencers on social media. In some ways, it’s like being potty trained. We know the importance of the toilet, but are too busy with what we are doing to stop. We don’t grasp the importance of the moment. We again miss the mark. Sin spoils our life again.
Discipleship involves training the willpower to do good at all times. To recognize evil and have the wisdom and maturity to overcome it. In many ways, it is like being potty trained. When the moment arises, one can do nothing and experience the messy consequence. Or one can find the toilet and manage the discharge quick and efficiently. The same is true in our Christian journey.
We begin with attaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. But failure to execute what we know doesn’t complete the task. We are instructed to renew our minds. To transform our thinking under the governance of God’s Kingdom. But it also requires help from the adults in the room. Church elders who are working along with the Holy Spirit to nudge you toward maturity. To assist you to become the person God has wired you to be in Christ.
Yes, one may say the maturity process begins when one is potty trained.
“Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. And you murmured in your tents and said, ‘Because the Lord hated us he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Deuteronomy 1:26-27
Have you ever blamed God for your problems?
Have you ever met people who believe they have been given a vision from God to pursue? In pursuing their dream, they experience modest success. As they became more and more successful, their humanity is soon exposed. They began to feel prideful. They began to believe their success was solely due to their awesome efforts. They began to strut their abilities. They began to treat those around them as incompetent fools. Then something unexpectedly happens.
All they have accomplished, soon disappears. Some outside influence cause them to make stressful decisions that displaced their dream. Their vision soon crumbled. In their anger and frustration, they start to blame everyone around them, including God. If God didn’t protect them from harm, then HE must be punishing them is their belief.
It’s the same story throughout history for those of us who haven’t learn to trust God. When you don’t have a strong relationship with someone, you never come to know them. Instead, you project your own worst ideas upon them.
When Israel left Egypt after 400 years of slavery, the people often blamed God for their problems. They would rather return to Egypt as slaves than enjoy the freedom under God. They would have Moses act as an intermediator then develop a relationship with God. So, throughout their journey, they would project their fears and concerns upon God. They blamed HIM for their unpleasant situation rather than trust HIM. They rarely would look at themselves as the problem, but always as the victim. As far as they were concern, it was always God’s fault.
When one lives with unbelief, one will never see God as the solution. HE will always remain as the problem. When one fails to trust God, one will always doubt HIS grace. One will then place greater emphasis on personal manipulation to solve the problem. When one fails to accept personal responsibility, one will only make excuses. Why even attempt a solution if the problem is bigger than themselves is one of their excuses.
When one comes to know God wants what is best for you, you find ways to lean on HIM. You begin to model your life after HIM. You want to experience life the way HE created life to be. You seek ways to develop a more meaningful relationship with HIM. You learn to better communicate with HIM. You are constantly seeking ways to discover more about HIM. HE becomes your rabbi. Your counselor. Your coach. Your hero. Your friend.
God is not out to get you. HE wants you to share in HIS family circle. HIS family business. HIS family ways. HE wants you to become the best you.
No, it is not God’s fault. HE is the solution.
You may be experiencing the pain of poor decisions made by yourself or those around you. You may be experiencing the pain from evil thrown your way. You may be experiencing the pain of living in a broken, beaten, and busted world. A world that ignores God and celebrates anti-divine actions. Yet all these experiences are the seeds God’s Spirit is using to do HIS work. HE is morphing our character after the image of Jesus. Remember, God’s purpose is to prepare you for an eternal home.
Meanwhile, if God has given you a dream. Pursue it. Lean on HIM. He is not the cause of your problems but wants what is best for you. Let HIM lead you. All the obstacles and short-term pains are the hurdles we jump through to become stronger and learn to trust in our heavenly Father. HE is the person who designed you and empowers you to become the best version of you.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Christianity is more than a list of dos and don’ts. That is the religious side. What makes a Christ-follower unique is the relationship they have with Jesus. When you accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, you have HIS blessings to ask for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:10, 13). HE will then live in you (John 14:16-17). And wherever the Spirit is, so is Father God and Jesus. They are always seen together (Acts 7:55; 10:38).
Jesus reminded the disciples of HIS presence with them more than once. Before HIS ascension into heaven, HE reassured us HE will be with us until the new age (Matt. 28:20).
So, how do we manifest Jesus in our lives? The apostle John narrates that one way we are assured we know HIM is by keeping HIS commandments (1 John 2:4). Also, our lives will mimic HIS (1 John 2:6). As we abide in Jesus, HIS eternal riches will be produced in our lives (John 15:4-16). HIS love will grow in us and be reflected in our actions. His joy and peace will abound with us. The fruit of God’s Spirit will manifest in your inner being and reflect a light for others to see (Matt. 5:16).
When Jesus died, HE redeemed humanity’s divorce from God in the Garden of Eden. HE restored open communications between God and ourselves. We now have direct contact with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. For Jesus gathered all humanity unto himself when HE took on skin. HE lived a vicarious life for our behalf. HE defeated Satan at the cross. He then became the only God-Man to ascend into heaven. HE now sits at HIS Father’s right hand in all power over heaven and earth.
As we surrender our individual kingdom to HIS, we join him. As we join HIM under HIS Kingdom to serve in HIS work, we are being trained for eternity. We are now learning how to live like Jesus. We do so as the Church prepares for her marriage with the groom, also known as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Now, we are also crucifying our carnal desires and allowing God’s Spirit to influence our spirit. As disciples, we are putting into practice the teachings of our Rabbi, Jesus the Messiah. As children of the living God, we are being placed into positions of responsibilities. Whatever role we accept, our goal is to best serve others like Jesus. HE is shaping our character and attitude to become of greater value in HIS service. We are learning the ways to govern under the authority of HIS Kingdom.
As our personal ego decreases, HIS glory is being manifested through the process. We learn like the apostle Paul, it is no longer I who live but Jesus who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). Through the years, as we abide in Christ, we learn to partner with HIM in our choices, decisions, actions, and deeds. We develop a meaningful relationship and trust. Yes, HE is my Lord and Savior. But over time HE becomes more of a friend and elder brother. The world doesn’t need another me. The world needs to know about Jesus and live life giving HIM the respect and honor only HE deserves.
Focus on magnifying Jesus in your life and you than have the essence of what it means to be a Christian.
Radical In Christ 