Weekly Newsletter
Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
I need to start eating healthier. So, I have made some hard choices. For my vegetables, I am going to commit to eating carrot cake, candy corn, French fries, onion rings, and popcorn. For my fruit intake, I plan on eating strawberry ice cream, boysenberry pie, apple turnovers, and donuts with some kind of fruit filling. Lastly, my exercise goal is to play only video games in which the character does a lot of running. Does this sound like a good idea? In one way ‘yes’, but actually ‘no.’
Unfortunately, many Christians have a desire for spiritual heath but have no reasonable plan or commitment as to how to get there. They spend countless hours watching movies, videos, and TV shows, and precious little time studying their Bibles, praying, or attending church. They spend the majority of their time doing non-spiritual or unspiritual things and wonder why they are not growing spiritually.
Others, on the other hand, do not even consider that they should be concerned about their spiritual condition. They believe they are spiritually mature enough – they are knowledgeable enough, holy enough, obedient enough, strong enough, faithful enough – so that they do not need to grow spiritually. This is a strong delusion that can lead to spiritual ruin.
The fact is, every Christian needs to be more spiritual and, consequently, every Christian is called by God to pursue spiritual growth. Here is just a small sampling of such biblical commands:
We must never allow complacency or stagnancy to creep into our Christian lives. For, as A.W. Tozer stated, “Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.” We are called to an insatiable pursuit for Christlikeness. God is not pleased with spiritual apathy, and we should not be either.
We simply cannot become spiritual, or grow spiritually, if we are not committed to spiritual habits and disciplines. Spiritual maturity does not come by way of osmosis, and it does not come out of carnal activity (any more than eating carrot cake promotes physical health). The battle for an ever-increasing spiritual maturity is not easy; it’s a battle. This battle worth fighting as Christ is pleased and glorified in our pursuit of Christlikeness.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #17):
Exodus 13-16; 2 Samuel 1-4; Psalm 48-50; Job 33-34; Jeremiah 22-26; Mark 13-14; 2 Corinthians 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Growing Your Faith: How to mature in Christ” by Jerry Bridges
I need to start eating healthier. So, I have made some hard choices. For my vegetables, I am going to commit to eating carrot cake, candy corn, French fries, onion rings, and popcorn. For my fruit intake, I plan on eating strawberry ice cream, boysenberry pie, apple turnovers, and donuts with some kind of fruit filling. Lastly, my exercise goal is to play only video games in which the character does a lot of running. Does this sound like a good idea? In one way ‘yes’, but actually ‘no.’
Unfortunately, many Christians have a desire for spiritual heath but have no reasonable plan or commitment as to how to get there. They spend countless hours watching movies, videos, and TV shows, and precious little time studying their Bibles, praying, or attending church. They spend the majority of their time doing non-spiritual or unspiritual things and wonder why they are not growing spiritually.
Others, on the other hand, do not even consider that they should be concerned about their spiritual condition. They believe they are spiritually mature enough – they are knowledgeable enough, holy enough, obedient enough, strong enough, faithful enough – so that they do not need to grow spiritually. This is a strong delusion that can lead to spiritual ruin.
The fact is, every Christian needs to be more spiritual and, consequently, every Christian is called by God to pursue spiritual growth. Here is just a small sampling of such biblical commands:
Psalm 1:1-2 ~ “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Colossians 1:10 ~ “so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
1 Timothy 4:7 ~ “… train yourself for godliness”
1 Timothy 6:11 ~ “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”
Hebrews 6:1 ~ “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity …” (see Heb.5:11-14)
1 Peter 2:2 ~ “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”
2 Peter 3:18 ~ “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ …”
We must never allow complacency or stagnancy to creep into our Christian lives. For, as A.W. Tozer stated, “Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.” We are called to an insatiable pursuit for Christlikeness. God is not pleased with spiritual apathy, and we should not be either.
We simply cannot become spiritual, or grow spiritually, if we are not committed to spiritual habits and disciplines. Spiritual maturity does not come by way of osmosis, and it does not come out of carnal activity (any more than eating carrot cake promotes physical health). The battle for an ever-increasing spiritual maturity is not easy; it’s a battle. This battle worth fighting as Christ is pleased and glorified in our pursuit of Christlikeness.
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #17):
Exodus 13-16; 2 Samuel 1-4; Psalm 48-50; Job 33-34; Jeremiah 22-26; Mark 13-14; 2 Corinthians 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Growing Your Faith: How to mature in Christ” by Jerry Bridges
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