FROM THE PASTOR
JUNE 17, 2018
I can say with absolute sincerity that I was not the best student in high school. In fact, I barely made it into the top half. There are a variety of reasons for that, ranging from being the most immature in my class (it probably would have been to my advantage to have started a year later) to really not being interested in learning. I could always find 101 things in the woods or on the lake that captivated my interest a lot more than “book learning”. After all, why read about a critter when you can hold one in your hand?
On the flip side though I wasn’t a terrible student either. It’s just that I found myself content to be “just average”. As maturity set in though a change took place. Through maturity I quickly discovered that being “just average” would not help to meet the goals I felt compelled to accomplish. Consequently, there came a point that I had to determine the priorities in my life so as to be positioned to best accomplish those goals. In doing so, I quickly discovered two things were required: 1) determination and 2) commitment.
From a spiritual standpoint the pews are full of Christians who are perfectly content to be “just average”. Now, don’t misunderstand me, not everyone is going to be a biblical scholar or a teacher or pastor or evangelist. And it’s not the “average” category that’s the issue. The issue is being ‘content” with being average. Check out these verses…
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB)
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1 Peter 2:2 (NASB)
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NASB)
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
You see, these verses make it abundantly clear that the goal is “maturity in Christ”. To attain that goal, every Christian must begin by comprehending the worthiness of its possession. Your determination and commitment are vital to that journey. They are the factors that God uses in His work. Christ has been our example and with determination He has made the commitment that He will not give up on us until we are complete in Him.
Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Pastor Larry
