Teaching them and showing them

A few weeks ago I blogged about the great commission and how we often neglect that second half of it that tells us to teach others. (http://theoutlet.wordpress.com/2007/04/30/what-is-the-role-of-the-church-in-our-lives/) I asked questions about the role of the church in our lives, and our hypocrisy as Christians. This weekend I found another verse that challenges us to teach others about God’s ways and living by them. 

Matthew 28:19-20  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Exodus 18:17 – 23 “Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

What is role in sharing with others? Do we have a responsibility to teach, train, guide, inform, direct, and even hold others accountable? Who is in your life that you could be teaching, mentoring, and walking together with? Do you know God’s heart and desires enough to teach them to others? If not, how can you change that?

Seeing God’s Heart

I love it when God shows me a glimpse of his heart and teaches me a lesson. I received an email from someone today who apologized for something and said he hopes that I will forgive him. As I thought of this message my heart softened and grew in love. I had forgiven the offense a long time ago, but because my friend has been unwilling to have relationship with me he has been unable to see that. I am thankful that he is growing and opening up, and I hope that he will one day understand my forgiveness and choose to walk in it.

This is just like my relationship with God. I mess up daily, and it can take me a long time to recognize that and go to God to admit my faults. In the meantime God is waiting, offering me forgiveness if I will just receive it. Instead, I tend to avoid him, keep my distance, or keep him at arms length. All the time he is just waiting for me to come forward. He wants me to choose the relationship again instead of choosing to live in my own broken ways. When I do finally come to him all he wants to do is embrace me and love me, leaving the past and the pain behind. He wants me to understand that the forgiveness has always been there, and it always will be there, I just have to choose to walk in it.

Do you understand that God is offering you forgiveness every day? Are you choosing to walk in it, or are you avoiding the relationship? Forgiveness is a gift that God has promised us. Choose that gift and let him express his tremendous love for you. It will change you and your life.

Restoring the damage done

My church is doing a series on relationships and I am preparing a lesson for next Sunday on restoration, the act of bringing something back to a former, original, or normal state. When I teach it must come from my heart so I am thinking a lot about what it means to restore a relationship, and about God’s heart for us and his role in that restoration.

On Sunday I heard a lesson on living honestly with others where we were challenged to daily ask if we had made bad decisions today and to recognize the impact those had on others. On the way home I heard a song in a new light. Here are the words to Damage Done by Shaun Groves.

Have you made decisions that impacted others, even if it was unintentional, where you need restoration? Have you struck the match and burned a bridge? Have you drawn your sword when you should have opened up your heart and shown love instead? What can you do to find restoration in your relationships? Maybe it starts with three little words. I am sorry.

Damage Done by Shaun Groves
Yesterday, once again
I fell down and broke a friend
Words were said, out of place
I hope that it’s not too late
To right this wrong
Cause I was wrong

I struck the match
I burned the bridge
I’m to blame for all of it
I lost your trust
When I drew my sword
This distance is my just reward
Can I undo the damage done?

Couldn’t sleep, part of me
Was crying out from hurting you
So afraid, you would say
There is nothing I can do
To right this wrong
I was wrong
(Chorus)
Listen friend, I must confess
You deserved more
I gave you less
It tears me up that I let you down
I’m sorry
I’m sorry
(Chorus)
The damage done
I’m sorry

The individual people of America are making a difference!

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charitable causes last year, setting a new record and besting the 2005 total that had been boosted by a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma — and the Asian tsunami.

“What people find especially interesting about this, and it’s true year after year, that such a high percentage comes from individual donors,” Giving USA Chairman Richard Jolly said.

Gaudiani said Americans give twice as much as the next most charitable country, according to a November 2006 comparison done by the Charities Aid Foundation. In philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, the U.S. ranked first at 1.7 percent. No. 2 Britain gave 0.73 percent, while France, with a 0.14 percent rate, trailed such countries as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany.

Meanwhile, companies and their foundations gave less in 2006, dropping 10.5 percent to $12.72 billion. Jolly said corporate giving fell because companies had been so generous in response to the natural disasters and because profits overall were less strong in 2006 over the year before.

(Excerpts are taken from a CNN news story at http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/25/charitable.giving.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)

What we heard is not what they meant

I came across this quote yesterday. “I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” Robert McCloskey

Oh how true that is. Every day we hear things and we believe we heard exactly what was said and know what was meant, yet we haven’t taken the time to really listen or to have deep enough relationship to know their communication style. I wonder how often we are right. I am sure it is not as often as we think.

James 1:19-20 reads, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

What would happen if we were quick to listen and slow to speak? It seems like communication would take a little more time. Would that time be used to think things through? By listening more would we hear things differently? By being slow to speak would we say less and be more meaningful in what we say?

God, teach me to listen more and not be so prideful in thinking I know and understand exactly what the other person said and meant. Teach me to see and hear others’ hearts before I respond with a quick tongue, an angry spirit, or a wounded heart. Show me how to ask questions, seek information, and take the time and energy necessary to build relationships and not just jump to conclusions.

An area of witness I am neglecting

A few years ago I was deeply struck by something a young adult I was spending time with shared with me. She was still living at home and attending a local college. Something had happened at home resulting in a disagreement with her father. Afterwards he came to her and apologized, admitting he had been wrong, and asking for her forgiveness. That image struck me profoundly because I had never heard of a parent asking their child for forgiveness.

I have been thinking of that a lot lately. There are many places in scripture where it calls out that Christians should forgive others. Christ told Peter he wasn’t just to forgive a few times (seven), but seventy-seven times.  In Matthew 5:23-24 it says that if we remember someone has something against us we should go and be reconciled. There are parables that speak of how debts are managed (paid and forgiven).

I am left with the image of someone knowing they are wrong, knowing they did not do the best they could have toward another in their life and being humble enough to admit their fault. Every day I sin and fall short of how God would like me to live, but very rarely do I admit that I messed up and ask someone else to forgive me. I can’t remember the last time someone came to me and said they were sorry or came asking for forgiveness.

I have been realizing the pride I hold and how I don’t want to humble myself to ask others to forgive me. I have realized how I don’t want to admit I am wrong and often I neglect sharing that with others even when I know I should. One of the greatest witnesses I can have toward others is to walk in humility, admitting my own shortcomings and admitting my need for their forgiveness. This is a new area that I really want to work on in my journey toward taking God at his word and living authentically.

Is there anyone you could be a witness to in this way?

Cuture or Kingdom?

My pastor has introduced a diagram to us that he has used to try to explain the church, how it fits into the world, and what we as Christians are called to. On that chart culture is shown as directly opposite from kingdom.

On another blog I visit regularly there has been discussion the last few days about churches marketing themselves. Churches are placing banners and signs outside their doors, putting signs on the streets, taking out advertising in phone books and newspapers, and sending mailings to the community.

Is God’s kingdom the exact opposite of culture?
Are we being cultural or kingdom like in our actions?
Do we or our churches need to use cultural and consumeristic tactics to attract people to God and churches?
If so, is that a cultural act or a kingdom act?

Who has the answers?

A few months ago I had a conversation with a leader at my church about being involved in ministry. I was trying to make a decision about whether it was right for me to be involved in a specific ministry I had been invited to join. He told me that he believed I was being hesitant about getting involved because I was scared and wasn’t trusting God. I on the other hand felt like I was trying to take time to prayerfully go to God and listen for his answer.

This situation raised questions that I continue to wrestle with:
Do we make plans and ask God to bless us in them?
Do we seek God and ask him to lead us?
Do we fail to join in, move forward, and trust because we are scared?
Does not joining in and moving forward reveal that we are scared and not trusting?

The answer to all of these is probably yes at times and no at other times. How do we determine if we are trusting or fearing? Asking God to lead us sounds like the right plan, but what do we do when he is silent?

It is questions like these that cause us to wrestle with what we believe, who we are, and how we are going to live. The answers may not always be easy to find, but the trail we walk down can be an amazing journey. Are you standing at a crossroads wondering which way to go? Don’t stop completely. Keep seeking, learning, asking, and trying. You never know when the greatest surprises might appear around the next corner!

Casual or intentional?

I was reading a blog a few days ago that touched upon the casualness that Christians can have toward their faith. That concept has been running around in my mind a lot since I read the post. When, where, and why am I casual about my faith and relationship with God?

Over the weekend I have been having some email dialog with someone from my church about what it looks like to follow God. She has been having a difficult time understanding the honesty I share through the doubts, struggles, fears, and questions I express. I explained to her that I don’t want to be casual about my faith, and that I am trying to be intentional about living a different type of life, one that is authentic and also transparent, one where I don’t feel a need to hide from others or present a false image of myself.

Was Noah casual in his faith when he built the ark? Was Moses casual in his faith when he led the exodus from Egypt? Was Joseph casual in his faith when he forgave his brothers and repaid their unkindness with love? Was David casual in his faith when he poured out his heart and soul into the Psalms?

Are you casual (informal, superficial, indifferent, lenient, occasional, nonchalant) about your faith, or are you seeking to be intentional (deliberate, done with purpose)? Are you living like one of those God called “after his heart”, a “righteous man”, “man of God”, “man of standing”, “man of insight”, “man of wisdom”, “man of integrity”, “man of understanding”, “man of peace”, or “man of truth”? What kind of man/woman are you seeking to be, and are you living in a way to become that type of person?

Learning to Love: “How are you?”

How many times have we heard “How are you?” I think the most common answer I have heard is “Fine.” Followed by “O.K.” or “Good”, and often it is followed by someone feeling obligated to ask “How are you?” in return.

Why do we say these words? Are they a greeting, a question, an icebreaker, or a meaningful attempt to engage someone in real dialog?
For someone who is lonely,, hurting, grieving, disillusioned, or in the midst of struggle those three words can bring pain, confusion, and frustration.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

God calls us to “live a life of love”. Would you be willing to stop asking “How are you?” unless you really mean it and are willing to stop and listen to whatever the other person tells you in return, even if it includes, pain or frustration?

Taking the posture to serve you the best

Pastor Brad Grey shared with his church that the very day that he and his wife lost their first child due to a miscarriage, was the same day his best friend and wife gave birth to their first child.

His best friend’s response was: “Brad, I love you. I’m sorry. If it takes you one month, if it takes you six months, if it takes you a year, if it takes you two years before you can even lay eyes on my daughter then I am absolutely okay with that. Because I will take whatever posture is necessary to serve you the best.”

Can you imagine how different our world would be if we lived with a posture of serving others the best? What if those we served had the same response to us in return? How can you serve others the best? Don’t just think about it, live it! Who can you start with? Your spouse? Your child? Your co-worker? Someone you are angry with? Someone you are in broken relationship with? Someone who is in need? Someone you don’t understand? Someone you love enough to sacrifice for?

Moving beyond fear to faith

What is your greatest fear? Can you name it? Would you tell it to others?

For the last 2-1/2 years my greatest fear has been to be in a place where I had to come face to face with a group of people from my old church, including those who hurt me the deepest. You see I went through a devastating situation of abuse, accusations, and defamation of my character. I was left completely shattered by the situation to the level that it took me months to get to a level where I could function daily without being in crisis.

Today, I faced my fear head on. This was an especially difficult decision because I recently lost another relationship with someone because I shared the story of what happened at my prior church with him. He was someone I trusted deeply, who was dear to my heart, and his hugs were one of the only places I had felt safe in 2-1/2 years. Despite that recent loss I choose to willingly walk into a graduation party for members of my old youth group. I saw old youth group members, their families, church members, and an old friend that two years ago I had walked away from because they choose to stay under the spiritual authority of those who abused me. I had walked into the situation also believing I might see my old partner in ministry who was the person who leveraged the accusations against me.

It was a difficult situation, and the decision to face my fear was one of the most difficult I have ever faced. However, I was able to go into it with confidence because I firmly believe it was what God wanted. It is part of the healing he has me going through. God’s word tells us to not fear, and I am living to take him at his word. The Bible also tells us to love others deeply, and without reservation, something I am trying to do, despite what I might feel is a cost. Finally, if we love God we are to act with confidence in what he has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. I have made a decision that I will no longer hide what God is doing in my life. I want to be a witness that lives in the light and brings glory to God.

Are you willing to face your fear? Do you have confidence that God will go before you?  What will it take for you to believe? If God is on your side, who possibly could stand against you and win? Sticks and stones can hurt our bones, words can hurt our heart, soul, and mind, but I am claimed by God so all I am is under his care and protection and I trust him with every second of my day and every relationship that crosses my path. I hope you will too.

Thank you Lord for going before me today and for giving me all I needed to face my fears and to be the best witness I could for you. Teach us how to face our fears and to trust you for everything we need.

Scripture references:
Isaiah 41:10  – 1 Peter 3:13-17 – John 3:20-21 – Mark 12:30

Being shaken, not stirred

This last week I have become aware of God speaking into my life in some new ways. Sometimes when God reveals himself in ways I recognize I find he is quiet and gentle, sometimes he is wild and outrageous. Sometimes he moves slowly, and other times he flips life on its head. Right now I am being moved internally, but I finally realized this morning that I am being shaken, not stirred. To be stirred means I am roused from inactivity and moved in a slight way. Instead, I say I am being shaken because I feel I am being moved all over (up, down, left, right, circular) with short, quick, forcible movements.

Nine months ago I was talking with my head pastor and I asked him how we are held accountable to God’s word. Are we held accountable to new truths as we learn them? Honestly I didn’t understand his answer, and I can’t even remember what he said. Since then I have returned to that question many, many times. I believe that as we draw closer to God and move into deeper relationship with him we will learn new things. This is part of maturing in our relationship and faith. As we learn those things God will challenge us to start living by those truths.

This week God has really been laying it on my heart to grow in my understanding of how my actions (good and bad) affect others in good and bad ways. Today in my quiet time I was really impacted by 1 Corinthians 8: 9 “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Verse 12: “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” And 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (It is best to read the whole passages in chapters 8 and 10.)

What struck me is how even things I think are good and permissible can still result in hurting others. Even if scripture doesn’t say it is wrong or sinful for me to do something, my choice to do it in certain contexts or around certain others (Christians and non-Christians alike) can result in it being a sin. It shows me how critical it is for us to have real relationship with others, relationships that go beyond the surface level interactions. Without really knowing those around me, I can so easily cause issues or hurt. My heart is grieved by knowing that I have likely done many things over the years that I thought were okay because the Bible didn’t call them wrong, but my actions hurt someone else because they were at a different place in life and faith than I was. Boy this relationship stuff (with God and man) is tough!

Thank you God for forgiving me when I do wrong, and for helping me to learn and grow so that I can do better in the future. I have such an incredible need for you in my life and show that to me more every single day. Please forgive me for my shortsightedness and help me to see any places where I need to go to others and ask for forgiveness for ways my behavior may have hurt them. 

Where did you learn to worship?

I grew up in a church where I learned to sing, listen to teaching, and join with others in the congregation for responsive readings, but I didn’t learn to worship, pray, or have relationship with Christ. I learned those things somewhere else.

At church on Sunday I had a great time worshipping. It left me thinking about where I learned to truly worship God. Worship isn’t about music and singing, although those can be a part of it. It is about living a life where we share with others. I am very thankful for Voice of Calvary, an interracial church and ministry I was a part of in Jackson, Mississippi. It was a place where I learned to be deeply passionate about serving others and being authentic in musical worship. I was blessed to attend a tremendous missions conference in Urbana, Illinois. It was where my heart for others, especially those who are needy or who are from cultures other than my own developed. My life was changed as I served as a summer camp leader under Tim Bigelow, Dave Lee, and Woody Franzen’s direction where I learned to pour my life out to others and love with all I have.

Have you learned how to worship? Have you learned to live a life where you share with others by putting your hands, feet, mind, heart, words, and actions into motion? Have you learned to be passionate, to serve, to have a heart for others, to pour out your life, and to love with all you have? Is there someone you can say thank you to for teaching you or leaving an example that helped you learn to worship? What a blessing it is to love God so deeply that I desire to worship him more than anything else in life!

Seeing God’s hand in the desires of the heart

A few months ago I read a book that impacted me more than anything else I have read in the last couple years. The book is called God on Mute, and it is about unanswered prayer and naked prayer. It is about being honest with God in a raw and deeply honest way. The book moved me, but also deeply grieved me because of all the unanswered prayer I see in my life and how it left me wrestling through questions about how God was working in my life and how he expressed his love to me because I obviously wasn’t understanding his communication. It left me questioning the below scripture from the Psalms.

Psalm 37:4-5 says:
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this.

Recently the short term contract I was working at came to an end and I was forced to look for a new job. This is something I have had to do several times over the last three years and it has been a hard process for me. Through that process an opportunity came my way that was very unexpected and I am now working at a new permanent job. I will be honest, I didn’t sit down and have that conversation with God about what I would really want in a job if I could have my deepest desires. I didn’t share my heart with him. I didn’t even have the faith to hope for a permanent job. After years of feeling like God had not heard me, did not want me to be where I hoped, and being in places where doors didn’t open for me I was at a point of believing that my heart, hopes, and desires must be wrong and I was somehow not in right relationship with God or not delighting, committing to, and trusting him.

I am still coming to understand exactly where God has placed me with this new job. The more I learn about what I have been asked to do the more excited I get about it. I know a lot of it is my attitude and perceptions of the situation, but God is showing me so many things. I am in a job where the focus of what I do is to give to and serve other people. What I do is all about others and helping them. I am in a place where there has been brokenness, doubt, pain, and loss. Part of my job will be to redeem that and rebuild. I have been brought in to encourage, uplift, support, and build enthusiasm. One of my key roles will be to cast vision to others, and yesterday I was asked to mentor two people. My role with them is to do everything in my power to equip, encourage, and empower them to make them shine at what they do so they can provide the best service to others.

Do you share the desires of your heart with God? Do you openly express your heart, passions, and wants to God? Have you given up hope that God will give you the desires of your heart? Maybe God is preparing you, preparing the place for you, and working to bring everything together in the right timing. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what your deepest desires and passions are, and he sees every gift and skill you have. He wants you to use those. He wants you to be a in place where you can be passionate, excited, and make a difference in this world, but he also wants you to know your heart and desires enough to express them to him. I challenge you to keep hoping, keep dreaming, and most of all keep praying that he will lead you to a place where the desires of you heart align with his and can be put to the greatest use to bring his kingdom glory.

Seeing God working, moving, speaking and directing

Recently a blog friend shared that he chose to listen to his spirit as it was troubled one day. It appears that God was trying to tell him something. That post left me thinking about the number of times we ignore or overlook how God is trying to share with us. Sometimes we are too busy, sometimes there is something that hinders our ability to hear, but I think often the problem is that we don’t know the shepherd’s voice as well as we think we do or need to in order to hear him.

For the last few weeks I have been trying to pay a lot of attention to how God is working, moving, speaking, and directing in my life. It has led to a lot of changes both in me, and in my circumstances. I am seeing relationships repaired or improved upon, prayers are being answered, I have a new job with some great opportunities for God to use me as a vessel to bring restoration and encouragement, and I am learning to see God in many places where I have previously overlooked him. At this same time I am being refined. I have been convicted more in the last few weeks about my beliefs, attitudes, and actions than even before. I feel deep conviction about learning what it really means to be authentic, for example the last two weeks at church I have found I can only sing the words to a song of worship if I truly mean them. I have a choice of whether or not to respond to the conviction I feel, but so far I am choosing to listen, learn, and change.

What could God be saying to you that you are overlooking or ignoring? How could he use you more if you took time to see him working, moving, speaking, and directing you and the world around you? Have you seen God at work today? Take a good look around!

A humorous look at a scripture

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45

What would it be like if God caused the sun to rise differently for those who are evil than for those that are good? What if he chose to send rain on the righteous but not the unrighteous? Isn’t it great we have a fair, just, and consistent God?

Moving to believe God

I have been reviewing a book and teachings by author Beth Moore that I was first exposed to about two years ago. It had significant impact on my life. If you have never heard or read Beth’s teachings you are missing a great resource. Men, don’t overlook her because she is often presented as a speaker for women. Her teachings are not gender specific.

The book I have been going through is called Believing God. It takes a deep look at the difference between believing in God and believing God. A lot of people believe in God. According to a Barna poll “83% of Americans identified as Christians, yet only 49% of these individuals described themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity.” Believing in God is different than living a life where we actively believe God. “Just one-quarter of adults posses an active faith, meaning they engage in all three of these activities (pray, attend church, and read the Bible in a typical week).”

Believing God means we believe what he says, believe he has relationship with us and will answer our prayers, believe that he is alive and active in our lives and our world. Are you only believing in God, or are you willing to have a relationship where you truly believe God? What difference would it make in your life to believe God? Are you ready to love him with your entire heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Language and theology

I have been thinking about language, communication, and culture a lot lately. I recently started a new job where I have been exposed to a lot of new language and acronyms that are foreign to me. It has taken a lot of  work to learn what others are communicating and to understand intentions and meanings.

About sixteen months ago I started attending a new church. I have struggled at times to understand some of the communication in that church. Sometimes it has felt like people were speaking a language I didn’t understand which has been an experience I have never had with Christians before.

As Christians, we divide ourselves up by denominations, or belief systems by claiming to be Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, or Evangelical, Fundamental, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Missional, Seeker, etc. I have been very hesitant to try to learn the label my church would use to classify themselves. A few weeks ago that label become more obvious to me, and I wish it hadn’t. I wish I didn’t know how to describe the “language” they spoke. I now find myself wrestling with whether I share the beliefs of other followers of that theology.

Why do we divide ourselves based on small beliefs? Does our theology bring people together or divide the church and break unity? Why do we have to use labels to describe who we are or what we believe instead of just calling ourselves Christian? Does our language include people and draw them in or leave them on the outskirts confused? If someone doesn’t share our exact theology are we keeping them from serving, giving, or ministering in our churches just because we view or worship God in a different way?

Appearing mature but living on milk

Recently I had to opportunity to discuss ministry with someone, and how to provide for those under our care in the best way. They told me that they lead a group by playing to the lowest common denominator in that group. That concept has troubled me for three specific reasons. First, what is someone the lowest common denominator of? A relationship with God? An active faith? Bible knowledge? The ability to put on an act for others? Second, how do we determine who the lowest common denominator is? Do we have to judge others by outward appearance to do that? Third, how does catering to the “lowest” in a group challenge people to grow and mature, especially those who are not the “lowest”? I expect the person I was talking to would not have classified me as the “lowest common denominator” in a group, and yet as I thought about the concept I questioned why I or anyone else would think I could be anything but that person.

Hebrews 5:13-14 “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

What does it mean to be mature as a Christian? Is it about what we believe? How we behave? What we share with others? I cringe when I hear people refer to themselves as mature, or worse yet talk about me as being mature, because it is very easy to think that because we have been a believer for a long time we must be mature. How can we call ourselves mature when we live in brokenness, and do sinful acts that hurt each other every day? Does the quote below leave you with any impression or thoughts about what being “mature” means?

“Jay, one of our church members, recently shared with me: ‘I was a Christian for twenty-two years. But instead of being a twenty-two-year-old Christian, I was a one-year-old Christian twenty-two times! I just kept doing the same things over and over and over again.’ ” (Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero)

What are you doing to grow, deepen, and mature in your life and faith walk? If your church isn’t providing support and opportunity for you to mature, how else/where else can you find what you need to mature? Are you living as a Christian for _________ years instead of being a _________ year-old Christian? What will it take for you to grow up so you can move from milk to solid food?