Small Steps Lead to Giant Leaps

The process of spiritual maturation can be daunting. I often become overwhelmed at how little growth I see in myself compared to what I desire and what I know God desires for me. I have students text me almost weekly and ask questions like, "How do I know I am looking more like Christ?" or "How can I be a Christian when I make so many mistakes?" Just like my own questioning it leads to despair. However, when  having these times of discouragement, I am reminded of Jesus' words, “If anyone would come after me, he must first deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35 NIV). 

 The passage is laid out by Jesus himself in steps: deny, take up, follow.... steps. Now these steps aren't a coincidence. These aren't just SOME steps to spiritual maturity, these are THE steps! The denial of self and the desires of the self. To take up or assume upon oneself the new life Jesus offers. Finally, continue to follow Jesus into the service of his kingdom. When we take these "small" steps daily, we discover down the road what  a giant leap we've made from who we use to be!

4 Ways to Waste your Time...and Life

Time is the greatest commodity we have! It's precious and we waste so much of it!
 Below are 4 of the greatest wastes of time I have experienced in life and ministry:

1. Fear- Fear is not to be confused with worry or the "fear" that the Bible descibes as reverence for the Lord! Fear is an unrealized, presumption of what might be happening or could happen. It often is related to a circumstance of our past and has no real bearing on the present moment. However it can be crippling and rob us of precious time. We should remember that fear is NOT from God, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

2. Worry- Worry, like fear is an unnecessary presumption, but it's more about the future than the present reality. It's a fear of the unknown and can literally rob you of the joys of the moment. Worry is also an indicator of your faith and reflects your view of who God is. Jesus reminds his disciples "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25 NLT) he goes on to say later in the passage "And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are"(Matthew 6:26 NLT) We tend to forget that when we worry, we simply tell God that he isn't big enough.

3. Doubt- seemingly a synonym for the latter, doubt is one of the more precarious time stealers. When we doubt, we basically do not trust in the character and provision of God. When doubting, we waste our time on the "what if's" or "can it be's" rather than relying on what we already know to be true about God. Scripture reminds us, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 NLT) You see doubt will always keep you from seeing exactly what God is doing in your life and that's time wasted!

4. Anger- Finally there is the fierce force known as anger. Scripture tells us that anger can make you look like a fool (Ecclesiastes 7:9) That in a growing relationship with Christ it should be something we are slowly moving away from (Col 3; Eph 4) And that it if not carefully addressed can lead to deeper sin (Psalm 37). More than anything, anger can be very harmful to your relationships with others, which is one of the key ways God desires for us to use our time on this earth. Anger is also another indicator of your faith and trust in God and how he is moving and working in your life and relationships. 

Time is precious, we have been entrusted with a certain amount of it, and it would be a shame to allow Fear, Worry, Doubt, or Anger to waste your time!

Martin Luther on Generosity

Although the Christian is thus free from all works, he ought in this liberty to empty himself, take upon himself the form of a servant, be made in the likeness of men, be found in human form, and to serve, help, and in every way deal with his neighbor as he sees that God through Christ has dealt and still deals with him. This he should do freely, having regard for nothing but divine approval.

He ought to think: "Although I am an unworthy and condemned man, my God has given me in Christ all the riches of righteousness and salvation without any merit on my part, out of pure, free mercy, so that from now on I need nothing except faith which believes that this is true. Why should I not therefore freely, joyfully, with all my heart, and with an eager will do all things which I know are pleasing and acceptable to such a Father who has overwhelmed me with his inestimable riches? I will therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ offered himself to me; I will do nothing in this life except what I see is necessary, profitable, and salutary to my neighbor, since through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ." - Concerning Christian Liberty by Martin Luther