I love to read. I have a fairly large library of books. I was tested on an entrance exam to Nursing
School a few years ago and was found to be only one of a few students who
was a 100% “self-learner”. Give me an instruction manual or an
educational book and I can do just about anything – so they say. Today, I love to learn and I do it best by reading and then through practice. I read something a few times, highlighting it
and making notes on it, and then I re-read as much as necessary to make sure I
understand it and can further put it into practice at least to a degree before
I move on. Then, if I can create a tool to help others
learn about it, that is what I do next. This is the way God wired me. But before you think of me as boastful, you must know that it is not something I have done all
my life, not even most of my life. I had to settle down and grow into it because I was much too desperate and not very
patient! I find this ability to be just one more part of the testimony of God’s grace in my life.
I was not a very good student in the
latter part of elementary or secondary school.
I had two brain surgeries before 5th grade and no one ever
pushed me academically or physically after that year. I guess they were afraid I’d spontaneously
combust! I guess that no one, at least
in the hospitals I was admitted to, had ever survived the type of accident and resulting injuries I had experienced. My initial prognosis was death and if not death, then to be a vegetable for the rest of my life. But even after the miracle occurred and I went back to school, very few in the school
system wanted the liability of something bad happening to me. My family had no idea what to
believe or trust after what they had been through. Miracle aside, they had been through a very traumatic experience with my accident. I cannot really blame anyone because I know that the
doctors, the school, and my family did not want to take what they believed were
unnecessary risks. But my perceived disability outweighed my desire to grow. It was a heaviness that stunted self-motivation (which was what, in light of the fear in those around me, was crucial for me to excel). In fact, I almost never made grades above
a “C”. The only time I did make a better
grade was in my last two years of High School in subjects that I really loved,
which involved Science and English. I finally met two teachers who saw more in me than I saw in myself. But even when I took my exit exams, I scored very poorly.
There was a season, however, that lasted
well up into my 30’s, where I found myself too eager to know more. I was driven by the fear of failure. I was desperate to rid myself of that feeling of being "stupid." I ran from experience to experience and subject to subject too quickly to master anything. This only increased my frustration. I grew easily and quickly
bored with what was in my hand before it had a chance to come to maturity and
actually work much change in my life. God would show me something to read and immediately I would think of someone else who needed to read it and give it away. Or I'd take good notes just to file them away so I could take more notes. God kept saying things to my heart like, "Enter into My rest" and "Trust Me with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding..." I would say, "What?" I have sense learned that I am the vessel, and HE is the treasure...I get to rest in Who HE is. Then I allow Him to flow through me. Then I obey out of trust, but He supplies the knowledge and power to accomplish the task. When we trust, we relax. It is in that quiet trust that we learn what "My yoke is easy" means. I had to learn this the hard way. In fact, God used many long road with dead ends to wear me down enough to stop, focus, and draw some meaningful conclusions. But even that much revelation I credit to Him - for He is the only One Who could choose me, save me, change me, liberate me from a life ravaged by heartache and sin ad make into something that no one, including myself, would have ever dreamed!
Looking back, I have memories of
myself and others who could not wait for the next good Bible study or good book
that came out on a particular subject.
Being hungry for more is not a problem.
In fact, hunger is a good thing.
It will keep propelling you forward instead of allowing you to become stagnant. But in everything, there is balance. Some of us were so driven for another sermon, another class, another book, another conference, but we skipped taking the time to practice what we learned. You cannot build more upon what is not stable. Why is that a problem?
My Daddy was a builder for many years. He taught me that if you do not
have a strong foundation upon which to build a house, it will develop cracks and other
structural flaws that eventually compromise its stability. In the same way, we do this by not allowing
one truth to be set in our hearts in such a way that it becomes a habit or
practice before we move on to another. We get so impatient and easily
bored with something that we do not allow it to become a part of our beliefs. If something is not a part of your beliefs,
your behavior will reflect it. When your
beliefs change, so does your behavior.
That is why behavior modification works to an extent, but it happens
from the outside – in; not from the inside – out. It may be something you do for a good sprint,
but it will not necessarily become a part of your life’s marathon. Pretty soon, you’ll find it too hard to keep
up.
King David said in Psalm
139:23-24, “Search me O God, know my heart.”
He was asking God to look into the seat of his beliefs. He went on to say, “Try me and know my
thoughts.” Why? because what you believe
will determine how you think. He further
asked, “See if there be any wicked [or darkened] way in me.” Why? Because our thought life effects our
emotional state of being. Whether or not we accept or reject a particular
thought will cause our bodies to go into a particular emotional state. Then he ended with, “And lead me in the way
everlasting.” Why? Because King David
understood that his beliefs were ultimately in control of his conduct. It makes perfect sense when you think about
the expectations we have in those who call themselves, “Believers”; to act
differently than the world - doesn’t it?
Why? Because if you have
“believed” in the Lord’s ability to save you and then the Word’s ability to
change you by renewing your mind, then your behavior also changes. You become more at peace, more mature, more
stable, more free. You begin to live
with nothing to prove and nothing to hide.
You begin to walk in increasing integrity and more grace. It just makes good sense – change your
beliefs and your behavior will be a fruit, not a task.
So the question is this: How well are you practicing the basics and furthermore what else you have already learned? Have you become bored with the elementary teachings
of the Word without being able to live them every day? Are you running after the deep things of God,
which are wonderful, exciting, and worth running after; but still unable to get
over an offense, to communicate or conflict well with your spouse, to break a
secret addiction? Are you running from
conference to conference but unable to find the time to read your Bible in a devotional way?
The Apostle Paul gave us a
great piece of advice in Philippians 3:16 when he said, “Only let us live up to
what we have already attained.” It’s
great to learn new things and have great experiences with the Lord, but before
we move on to the next new study or experience, let us put it into practice
with consistency. If we don’t, what good
is it? I have been in the
Pentecostal-Charismatic movement all of my life and it has not been unusual for
me to see someone “slain in the spirit” (falls on the floor under the power of
the Holy Spirit) at an altar service when someone who is anointed lays hands on
them. And that’s fine. I have had it happen to me on numerous
occasions. But I like to say that it is
not about falling down. It is about how
different you are or are not when you get up!
If you are just doing something for the experience alone, which is more
like a “courtesy drop”, then what good is falling down? If the Spirit of God puts you there, let Him
actually do something once you are down there so that when you get back up,
something is different – whether it is a physical or emotional healing (which I
have experienced on numerous occasions), a new sense of conviction to forgive
someone or give up a habitual sin; or just
to be humble and open to God’s help instead of being so independent and prideful. There is such purpose in the things God does
for us. It is never for a show or for
the experience’s sake alone.
It is a good thing to evaluate your heart and mind now and then. We all need to check ourselves from time to time. We all need to regularly ask ourselves, “Am I doing the basics well? Is it time to take a few steps back and revisit the foundational things.” Instead of continuing to be 100 miles wide and a few inches deep, perhaps we could venture deeper in experience with the disciplines of our walk with Christ. Then, instead of just emphasizing the need for more sermons, books, or teachings; perhaps we could seek out the opportunity to give away some of what we have already attained - perhaps make 12 or more disciples like ourselves? (Would you be worth duplicating in your level of obedience to God’s Word at this season in your life?) Many are saved, but how many walk in obedience or disciple others out of love and gratitude for the Lord’s sacrifice? Many churches offer lots of sermons and teaching but do not effectively make disciples or train others to make disciples. If you have not had this incredible opportunity to become discipled, find a place where you can or pray for someone who can walk alongside you – to be like Paul was to Timothy. Then, once you are discipled and you are putting your faith into practice - then pass it on. It is one of the greatest blessings in life.
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my [biological and spiritual] children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4 – Emphasis mine).
Both Matthew and Mark recorded
the Great Commission given by Jesus. If
you put both of their words together, it reads...
“He said to them, ‘Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. And these signs will accompany those who
believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new
tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands;
and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will
place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.’ (Mark
16:15-18)…‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Become a disciple and then make disciples. God has made available all the power you
need.
No comments:
Post a Comment