Good morning and welcome to the weekend. It is hard to believe that summer is almost over, and that school has started for most of the kids. I hope that you can look back over the past few months and see the ways in which God has been working in your life. Furthermore, I hope that you can see the various things that you are doing in order to facilitate spiritual growth in your walk with the Lord. Never forget, spiritual growth doesn’t simply happen with the passing of time. Yes, you can gain a bit of maturity. However, growth takes effort. It takes intentionality on your part.
In the fitness center at the apartment complex where we used to live was a sign that is supposed to provide motivation for working out. It begins with a list of excuses. However, each one is crossed out.
I’m tired.
It’s too cold.
It’s too hot.
It’s raining.
It’s too late.
Of course, the first time I saw the sign I wasn’t thinking about exercise. I immediately thought that those are excuses why people don’t come to church. I thought that maybe we could get one and hang it in the lobby. Anyway, the sign concludes with one last thought. This time it is not crossed out. It simply says:
Let’s Go!
Obviously, the point is to move beyond excuses and take action. What is true with physical fitness is also true of spiritual fitness. As we enter race toward the end of another year, let us all commit to moving forward in our spiritual lives. Let’s us be intentional about the spiritual disciplines in our lives. Maybe you want to read through the Bible, to study a certain book in depth, memorize a few verses, keep a prayer journal, get involved in a ministry, etc. Whatever the case may be, cross out all of the excuses and take the first step. And then the next, and the one after, and then keep on going. Don’t let anything stop you this year as you seek to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
In 2 Peter 1:5-12, we read the following:
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.
Let’s Go!
Let’s grow and serve together!
Larry
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