Thought for the day
You have, no doubt, heard of the Darwin Awards. These are awards that are issued every year to the people who do the "stupidest stuff" which results in their own death. Recently, I found that these awards have been collected in a book, so I checked it out from the library, and had my wife read to me as we traveled one day. I discovered that her favorite chapter was the one about "Macho Men". These three examples come from that chapter:
There was the story about Larry and his friend Joseph who just last year decided to re-enact the William Tell scene where William shoots an apple off his sons head. But instead of an apple, they used a beer can. Larry put it on his head and Joseph shot. Unfortunately he was no William Tell and he killed his lifelong friend.
Then there was Ken who in 1997 was bitten by a cobra belonging to his friend. He refused to go to a hospital, though, saying, "I'm a man, I can handle it." Well he couldn't. He died a few hours later.
Oh yes, and then there was the story about James who in 1995 couldn’t figure out what was causing the strange noise under his truck, so he asked a friend to drive the truck while he hung underneath. Unfortunately, James' clothing got caught in the drive shaft and, well, you can figure out the rest.
It would still be tragic, but it would be more understandable if these foolish decisions were made by teenagers. But all of the above examples involved grown men, serving as proof that age alone is not a guarantee of maturity. Maturity can best be defined as the ability to make wise choices. It's sad to see an adult with years of experience making immature decisions. It's even sadder in the spiritual realm.
The writers of the New Testament make it clear that we are expected to grow, to mature, as Christians. We come up out of the waters of baptism a new creation, a babe in Christ. It's exciting to experience that new birth. But if, after years in the church, one still has the qualities of an newborn Christian, there is a definite problem.
The Hebrew writer addressed this very issue with his readers:"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Heb 5:11-14, NIV)
May your spiritual life be filled with growth as you continue to feed on God's Word, and may you develop the kind of maturity needed to make wise decisions.
Verses
Matthew 9:29
He then touched their eyes and said, To the measure of your faith it shall be to you.
Isaiah 57:19
"I create the fruit of the lips: peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near," says the Lord, "And I will heal him."
2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
John 14:13
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Romans 10:12
This includes everyone, because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call to him.
Prayer
Father, we desire to have You lead us in the paths of righteousness in the way everlasting. Sometimes the next step we take is clearly visible and other times it is a step of faith as darkness seems to veil Your leading. As we earnestly pray we can trust You who stilled the tempest and turned darkness into light. We pray for discernment and a willing spirit to follow Your leading in all matters. Amen.
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