Month: July 2024

 

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

–John 15:8

God’s plan for you is to be continually built up in your Christian faith. Are you growing in your relationship with God, as He desires? If so, there’s going to be tangible evidence in your life. Think about a construction project. You don’t just take it on faith that a building is going up–you see the progress happening every day. In the same way, if you are growing in Christ, there’s going to be visible, measurable evidence. Take a moment to consider these questions:

• Are you closer to God today than you were twelve months ago?
• Do you know more of God’s Word today than you did twelve months ago?
• How many people have entered into a relationship with God in the past twelve months because of your witness?
• In the past twelve months, have you gained victory over any habits or attitudes that were displeasing to God?

If you are truly in Christ, there’s going to be progress in your spiritual life. So how do you grow in your relationship with God? You might be thinking, I know this already, Pastor. The way I grow as a Christian is by reading the Bible, praying, and going to church. Yes, those things are essential for getting the nutrients you need. But that’s not what Paul talked about in Colossians 2:6–7. He wrote, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith.”

Let me point out the relationship between the phrases in this passage so we can understand what Paul was saying. First, notice the words “rooted” and “received.” How are you rooted in your faith? By receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Second, notice the phrases “built up in Him and established” and “walk in Him.” Those phrases are related in the same way. You are rooted in the faith by receiving Christ, but you are built up and established in your faith by walking in Christ. That means obeying Christ.

Nothing will strengthen your spiritual muscles more than obeying God, and nothing will cause your spiritual muscles to atrophy more than disobeying God. The key to continually growing in your faith is to practice obedience to God.

                                                                                                                                                              

It needs to be said: Neglect of God’s Word is a direct result of a lack of desire to grow/mature in our honor and glory of Jesus Christ in our daily thoughts, words, and actions.

 

Colossians 3:2-6 reads:

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience…

One of the things that I found remarkable about the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was how it took away many of our idols. Those cultural, political, and athletic icons that we emulated and revered suddenly came to a screeching halt.

There were no concerts, no football games, and no new theatrical releases. Work and school were canceled. 401(k)’s quickly plummeted. Politicians seemed as confused as the rest of us. The things that people clung to as anchors in life were suddenly gone.

In their absence, many realized their need for God instead.

Almost all of us have idols in our lives, which have taken a place of honor that should be reserved for our Lord and Savior. These things are mortal and temporary, yet we give them priority in our lives and follow them almost religiously.

The Bible—from the beginning of the Old Testament to the end of the New Testament—repeatedly issues warnings to avoid idolatry and focus on the One True God. The admonitions are not quaint suggestions, but forceful proclamations regarding the eternal risks of turning from God to the things of this world.

The contrast is clear. If your mind is set on Heaven and your eternity is surrendered to Christ, glory awaits. Conversely, if you make the pleasures and desires of this world your idol—if you turn your back on God and worship temporary “things”—you are traveling down a path that leads to eternal separation from God.

The blessing, my friends, is that it is not too late for you! If you recognize areas of your life where you’ve elevated worldly elements into a place of power in your life, I beg you to reorder your priorities today and return Christ to the throne of your heart. Jesus died to take away the idols which once controlled you.

As you surrender those things to Him as Savior, He will give you a new life and the promise of eternity with Him in Heaven.