Skip to main content

Not Elementary, My Dear Watson

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

This verse is piercing truth into my heart today.  I get tired of all of the elementary teachings that have become divisive in churches.  And then, not only that, but it keeps the focus on things that allow no depth to the soul.  We must complete step one, or the acceptance of Jesus, in order to move ourselves on to deeper and more mature topics, yes.  The issue is that we get caught up in step one by trying to save everyone around us, which keeps us from going deeper with Christ.  I think it was my dad who said something like, "We are to be fishers of men.  But it's not our job to clean them, it's God's."  We get so caught up in "cleaning" with trying to teach all of the right things to do and the right theology to believe, that we forget there is so much more to a relationship with Christ than just the teaching, doing, and believing.  We want a list of dos and don'ts and that's just not what depth in Jesus is.  Really, becoming mature in your faith is about activating the Holy Spirit in your life and turning Jesus loose in your world.  When we do that, the depth we will experience will be such that nothing can shake the foundation that has been laid in Christ Jesus.  I pray that you meet Jesus on your "road to Damascus" and your life will no longer be the same because you have met the one who "cleans you" and gives depth to your soul.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mercy and Compassion

Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. This is something I have struggles with, loving those who frustrate me.  How can we be merciful to those who are "corrupt" without being judgmental?  It is definitely not our place to judge one another, it is our place to love one another.  Sometimes loving the people who are rude or cruel is the hardest part of being a Christian.  My humanity would like to judge people for their behaviors and choices and lash out at them.  I believe we are only able to show true mercy and compassion for others when we accept these for ourselves from Jesus and then He lives them through us.  Allowing God to change our hearts in order that Jesus' mercy and compassion shine through is a journey.  It's not always easy.  On those difficult days, I remain quiet and ask God to love on me, so I...

Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord. This is God's word through Ezekiel in the Valley of the Dry Bones.  There are a couple of thoughts that come to mind with this verse.  First, I have to admit that sometimes I feel as though I have dry bones.  I continue on my path and lose sight of the One who brings life. At times I am surrounded by things, people, or situations that suck the life out of me and I need the breath of life from the Spirit again.  It is a conscious effort for me to not involve myself in things that are life taking.  I make the decision to spend alone time with Jesus in order to experience His life giving power.  Second, one word in particular stands out to me in this verse.  It is the word settle.  It is speaking to me today of a peace and calm that is ahead.  Things ha...

Surrender in the Struggle

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever--do not abandon the works of your hands. Today I am bogged down by all of the little things that I am waiting for in my life.  I am disappointed in the way some things have gone and I am looking for a word of hope in what I know about God's will.  This verse is a good reminder for me that God is in the midst of the trial and that there is purpose in the struggle.  The soul growth that comes from the struggle is deeper than any other.  We must come to God in those times and it forces us to look at Him directly.  We can waste our time trying to find ways that we can step in and make God's will happen,  but if we make it happen, then it truly isn't God's will.  It very quickly becomes our will.  I must be reminded of God's plan and purpose for my life and then ask God not to abandon me when I take over.  I must surrender in the struggle.  It is God's ...