Pattern for Christian Growth

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:5–11)

This is a summary of the Christian life. It begins with an awareness of sin and failure, and with the Lord coming with forgiveness and giving great joy. It continues with repetition — sin exposed, forgiveness and cleansing, then great joy. 

This is not about being saved over and over, but being made clean, measuring up to the what He has already done. The sin He brings to my attention might be a current disobedience, or it might be a life-attitude that needs to go because it is hindering me from being like Jesus. Whatever the Holy Spirit reveals, I must acknowledge lest it continues to mess with this wonderful new life in Christ.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

 After discovering this pattern, I’ve long been convinced that this is God's way of transforming my life and the more I cooperate, the closer He seems.

Jesus. Thank You for being my Redeemer, for working on and in my life, for granting me the privilege of being Your forever child, and granting great joy even in the tough times. You are indeed all I need. 

Importance of Short Accounts

And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord. And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the Lord. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord, the God of their fathers. (2 Chronicles 30:13–22)

This passage brings a few thoughts. First, although Hezekiah prayed that God would pardon those not in right relationship with Him, their forgiveness was based on the blood of the Passover Lamb. Before that could happen, confession and repentance was vital. This is also true for those who follow Jesus.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:8–2:1)

God sent His Son that I might have constant fellowship with Him. Sin is the only way that fellowship takes a turn. Instead of blessing me with continual direction and filling me with the Spirit, He speaks to me about my own life and what needs to change. We experience this “fellowship” as trials, yet often miss their purpose. One is to drive me into greater trust and teach me patience, yet often those trials are showing me where I have been trying to run my own life — which is sin (See Isaiah 53:6) and that needs to be acknowledged (confessed) and turned from to restore the fullness of what that fellowship should be. 

Without keeping short accounts, life can be so filled with challenges that my focus easily turns to fixing or overcoming the problems rather than seeking God’s will. In other words, I turn it into a DIY project rather than confessing my sin and repenting.

No, there is no lamb-slaughtering involved, just returning to the One who already died for me. Forgiveness is secured, but confession and repentance are part of walking with Him and not letting that sin nature act as if it still alive and important.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

One other thought: we tend to focus on the importance of confession and repentance at special times such as Lent or during the Lord’s Supper or Communion, yet this should be done whenever the fruit of the Spirit goes missing. If I am not filled with love, peace, joy and the other evidences of Him ruling my life, then I need to find and deal with sin of some sort.

Jesus, walking in the light is just that — knowing what You give me and want for me, knowing the next step, being thankful, caring about Your will and Your world. Thank You that keeping short accounts is the key to spiritual growth and dealing with the trials that expose my need for You to forgive and cleanse my sin.

Walking with Jesus

 

My hubby goes to a men’s prayer group each week. Last night, those men and their wives met at the leader’s home for fellowship and dessert. The fellowship topped the ‘sweet’ list. One of the wives was the person who made a wreath of pink tulips for me (because of this post). We’d only met once before yet our conversation was as if we had been sisters forever. Why? Because our desire to live for Christ was identical.

Today’s example is Enoch from the OT. He lived as many years as our calendar has days. It was said: “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:23–24) The NT put it this way:

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:5–6)

Enoch did not win God’s favor by something he did. Instead, God was pleased with him because he believed what God said, the same as Abel did before him and Noah after him, even the same faith of the thief who died beside Jesus and the faith of those who are in God's family today.

As for the walking part, the only way anyone can do this is by faith. I began my journey with the Lord by faith and cannot perfect or complete that journey by my own efforts in the flesh to do the good attitudes and actions as God commands.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

But how do I know what that looks like? The next chapter in Colossians describes a walk of faith. It is about priorities, attitude, hope, self-denial, and willingly allowing Christ to use me as a display of His goodness. That includes forgiving others and loving His family as my own with peace and thankfulness ruling my heart. It is also being in His Word and letting all He says affect all I think, say, and do.

If I have been raised with Christ… set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. I have died, and my life is hidden with Christ in God… I must put to death what is earthly in you… all evil desires and idolatry… putting them away, also anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk and lies. I’m to put on a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and… forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven me. Putting on love as it binds everything together in perfect harmony, letting the peace of Christ rule in my heart… being thankful, all because the Scriptures richly dwell in me. I’m to teach, admonish in wisdom, sing praise and thanksgiving in my heart, and do all to glorify the Father God in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Colossians 3:1–17 personalized and paraphrased)

PRAY: Jesus, You are teaching me more often to pray Your words and as I do, the sense of You hearing and responding keeps increasing. Walking with You is not about me being sinless, but about knowing Your perfections are mine by faith, and as I keep my heart and mind on You, You are transforming me to be more like You. The more I see my weaknesses and failures, the more You remind me of Your goodness and grace. Walking with You is an incredible wonder!

Living by Faith

One OT prophet asked God something that I’ve asked, as do many others. We watch the news on Saturday and hear of atrocities and realize some of the victims are God’s people. Then we go to church on Sunday and hear about the goodness of God and wonder the same question the prophet asked:

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13)

What is God doing when evil people abuse, persecute, and even slaughter His people? Habakkuk asked and explained his dismay then said, “I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

Habakkuk wrote about 640–615 b.c., just before the fall of Assyria and the rise of Babylon. God used Assyria to punish Israel and was about to use Babylon to punish Assyria and Judah. When this prophet understood that would happen, he was upset, yet he wisely waited on God for the answer. God did not have to tell him, but He gave an answer that is familiar to believers. It was repeated three times in the NT, each in a different context, but it fits everyone who has been justified by faith:

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)
But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38)

I was given eternal life by faith, justified by faith, and of course must live by faith. This means ceasing from my own works and yielding to Jesus Christ who works in me to do what He wills for my life.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

I received Him by faith and not my own effort or claiming any worth or works, totally trusting Him. And so must I live, even when my sovereign Savior does things that I do not understand or expect.

In the past few weeks I’m hearing God say many things about His power to use evil for good. He even used all Satan’s plans to fulfill His Redemption plan. His power overrides all evil and uses (and even plans) calamity for His purposes… always because of His great love for people and His opposition to evil. In this, I must trust Him. Walk by faith, even though I cannot see or understand. Just trust Him. Endure in faith. Be filled with His Spirit and rejoice that He is in control and that He wisely knows what He is doing.

His wisdom, power, and righteousness are all engaged for His people. I trust Him for eternal life and must have that same trust when He takes any believer out of this world, no matter the method. We have an eternal hope. So did Habakkuk, and this is why God could tell him to walk by faith. He could do it because he was made just before God by faith.

PRAY: Jesus, I know that walking by faith is for those who have been saved from sin by faith. Trusting God when I watch the news would be impossible without the faith You granted me at salvation. Denying what my flesh tends to want (proof) or believe (only what I see) yet faith enables me to be dead to that and alive to trusting You in this messed up world. You remain on the throne and remain the One to trust no matter what is going on around me. I’m so grateful for the gift of faith.

Correction Requires Pruning

 

Our next door neighbor loves pruning bushes. They have two near their front door that she has expertly shaped. We have the same bushes but never pruned them. As they started to get gangly, she offered to do it. In a brief time, they begin to fill in and look wonderful. Cutting back actually promoted growth. This is what Jesus was talking about in these verses:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1–2)

He goes on to describe the importance of a branch abiding in the vine, however these words tie to what Paul wrote to Timothy about pruning and correction as getting rid of what is not necessary so spiritual growth increases.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

In context, this terminology declares that the Word of God makes me stronger by getting rid of that which is unproductive by hindering spiritual growth and the production of spiritual fruit. It is about removing imperfections and promoting godliness.

Job knew this. He said, “The righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9) another way of saying that pruning out the dead and useless things in life make God’s people cleaner and stronger.

The NT reinforces this in several ways:

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5–10)

A few weeks ago, I ‘pruned’ my closet. I put out everything that did not fit, was uncomfortable, or was mostly polyester (which makes me feel tired). Now I can pick anything to wear and know it will feel and look good. Pruning made a dramatic difference.

This also happens with other parts of life. I pruned our pantry. Amazing transformation. Hard-copy photos are getting the same treatment. Also, computer files. Life is more efficient. It’s easy to see that having sinful, selfish junk removed will make a difference, but not just that — what about stuff that isn’t necessarily bad or evil, it just uses valuable time, effort, or money that could all go to better causes.

I read once that time management issues are usually taken care of by eliminating timewasters. This can be things like: the telephone, social media, television, reading when there is work to do, self-pity and worry, being disorganized, lack of discipline, trying to do too much at once, unable to say “NO,” lack of focus, too much stuff/clutter, inefficient, procrastination, unfinished tasks, unnecessary tasks, not asking for help, and unable to prioritize.

The average Christian would likely not call these things sinful, yet the Bible does tell us to “number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12) and to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

PRAY: Jesus, I am convicted by these thoughts. I can waste time and procrastinate, partly because I just don’t feel like doing something, and it is usually something that eventually must be done anyway. Wasting time can also indicate a lack of confidence in You, for You have promised to give me all that I need to do all that You want me to do. I thank You for taking Your pruning shears after me and reminding me to stop wasting the valuable time You have given me. Strengthen me according to Your Word.

PONDER: How does the love of Christ surpass knowledge, that I may be filled with all the fullness of God? Isn’t it because He is able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or think, according to the power at work within me? Should not everything I do be done to glorify Him? FOCUS! (Ephesians 3:19–21)