Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment. 1 Peter 2:2
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing …. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples …. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain. John 15:5, 8, 16A
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. Hebrews 3:12-14
Today's thoughts from today's verses:
All journeys have a beginning and there is nothing wrong with being at the beginning unless we are still at the beginning long after we should be well into the journey itself. A newborn baby is at the beginning of the journey of human life and the image of the 1st Peter passage above is very real to us. Babies cry out for nourishment, and they crave their mother’s milk. As they regularly partake of that nourishment they are soon past the beginning and off to a good start of growing into the full experience of life. Our spiritual beginning comes about when we receive the forgiveness of sins offered us in Christ. Through this forgiveness and cleansing we are made alive spiritually and Christ comes to dwell in our hearts through the Holy Spirit to begin the process of transforming our lives. Christ gives us nourishment through His presence (the living Word) and through the Scriptures (the written Word) and we are launched on our journey with Him and the full experience of spiritual life He has in store for us.
The key words from the passages above are the words abide and partake. The key to our journey is staying close to Christ and drawing our nourishment from Him like a branch does from a vine. This is what it means to abide and it is the only way to be fruitful. Being fruitful (the follow through) is what the journey is all about. In intimate connection with Christ whereby we experience His presence and partake of Him, we have the nourishment we need for being fruitful. The Hebrews passage above contributes another significant element into the mix. It exhorts the brethren to “encourage one another day after day.” If we learn to abide and partake of Christ right from the beginning and have the daily support from the brethren to keep at it, we will be in the best position possible for holding fast to Christ throughout the journey from start to finish. Now, that’s what good follow-through in the Christian walk is all about.
Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:
Lord, show me how to abide in your presence and how to partake of the constant nourishment provided in the intimacy of communion with you. I do not want to be a spectator but a full-fledged participant. I give myself to you and the growing, thriving spiritual life you have set before me. Grant me all the support I need from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I choose to be a complete follower for your honor and glory. Amen!
