April 19 “Keep Growing” Colossians 2: 6-7
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)
Have you ever experienced a change in your life? Has the status quo become a footnote in the history of your life? Are you different than you were ten years ago? The one thing that we can count on, in this life, is change. Millions of dollars, each year, are spent in an attempt to keep our appearance the same as today, yet we continue to change with every passing day. I hear of the need for a change in others, however, not me! Right? We resist this inevitable reality with passion and determination. Once we are born, we begin to die and during this process, we age and change. This process is called maturity. The Bible speaks of our “growing in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,” yet so many of us are still babies in the spiritual Christian experience. As I go deeper into my sixth decade of life, I have become keenly aware of the changes that have occurred in my own life and I am excited about what is to come. Granted, it took some adjustments to see an old man looking back at me, from the mirror, each morning, however, I remain hopeful that this image of this “old man” will keep growing and aging and maturing spiritually, until it is time to “go home!” Just as we age physically, we must age and grow spiritually! Sadly, many are still at the spot where they got in and resist the changes (growth) that the Bible speaks of. Could it be that the struggles and conflicts in the modern church are a direct result of immature Christians who spend more time resisting change and less on becoming what God has intended? The Bible (God’s Holy Inspired Word) is clear! If you expect to receive the manifold blessings of God, then you MUST grow! Nothing is sadder that a fully grown (physically), collard green eating country boy, whining like a child over some trivial thing that has occurred in their lives or in the church . We have some real and serious issues going on in our world today! We are experiencing “Wholesale” changes in our entire way of life, upheavals in political, social and interpersonal relationships and an arrogant disregard for the moral and correct way to live. What are we to do? Our challenge today is to recognize that change is inevitable and to embrace it and enjoy it and to become what God has intended for us to be: strong, mature, dependable examples of His love and amazing Grace! Remember, we cannot change the unfolding and prophesied plan of God, but we can Keep growing, Keep believing, Keep receiving, Keep claiming and Keep on Keeping on! THE WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, I AM JUST PASSING THROUGH! Praise God, He is not finished with you yet! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…Remember – THE BEST IS YET TO BE!