NOW THAT YOU BELIEVE
by
Dr. Barry J. Minsky
You have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Your new spiritual life has begun. In fact, as the Bible puts it, “all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17) I know that it is exciting to realize that God has done a great work in your life and that you are destined to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
New life is exciting and wonderful; however, it requires nourishment if it is to develop and prosper. Imagine leaving a newborn child to grow on his own. Of course, that would be ridiculous. A baby cannot survive without the necessities of physical Life such as food, clothing, and shelter. The new spiritual life is very much the same. Left alone, it will stagnate. Real growth can come only as the nutrients of the spiritual life are provided. It is my purpose to share with you what some of those nutrients are and how you can use them to nourish that wonderful new life which God in His love has given to you.
BIBLE READING
First of all, we want to consider Bible reading. Without question, the Bible is the single most important resource which God has given us for our blessing and spiritual growth. It is the Word of God and the direction book for how we are to live our human lives. As God Himself expresses it, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17) Because of the importance of the Scriptures, God has commanded us to carefully study them. He said, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15)
I could not stress too much how very important this is. Just as food is necessary for the growth and development of the human body, the Bible, the bread of life, is important for the soul. You cannot succeed in the Christian life without studying the Scriptures. You need to develop a plan for daily Bible study that will enable you to learn the Word of God. Develop a plan to read the Bible in one year. Read with a desire, not only to understand it, but also to obey it, and you will be blessed.
PRAYER
Probably, the next most important thing you need to live an effective Christian life is prayer. Bible reading is God speaking to us; prayer is our speaking to God. One of the most wonderful aspects of family life is that of developing a close and meaningful relationship between parents and children. God, as the father of all believers in Jesus Christ, wants to develop that kind of relationship with His children. He wants us to go to Him on a regular basis to tell Him about our feelings, our needs, and our love for Him. Doing this will help us to know Him better and to have peace in our hearts and lives. So God tells us to “pray without ceasing”. (I Thessalonians 5:17) We are told that when we are concerned and burdened we should, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) God is so concerned about our prayer life that He gives us a sample prayer, which has been called “the Lord’s Prayer” to instruct us about how we are to pray to Him. You can read it in the Bible in Matthew 6:9-13.
If you want to have an active Christian life, one that will glorify God and make you happy, you need to develop an effective prayer life. Probably the best way to do this is to set aside a specific time every day and find a place where it is quiet. Begin your prayer time by reading a short portion of the Bible and praying to God to help you understand it. You should then be prepared to experience the blessing of fellowship with your Father in Heaven. The prayer time need not be long. The length is not as important as the attitude you have as you are in God’s presence. Remember, God is always ready for fellowship with you. He is there 24 hours every day. Take advantage of the opportunity for communion with the eternal God!
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
We have considered two important factors in the spiritual growth of the Child of God--Bible reading and prayer. Another important factor in Spiritual growth is fellowship with other Christians. We live in a world in which there is much opposition to the Gospel and to those who love it. We need the support and friendship of others who love the Lord and have a desire to serve Him. We can learn from one another and support one another in our walk with the Lord.
God set up the church as a primary organization for the fellowship and development of Christians. If we desire to grow in the Lord, we should be involved in the programs of the church as much as possible. In fact, God has told us that we are not to be “forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another...” (Hebrews 10:25)
CONCLUSION
We have talked about three important elements in Christian growth: Bible reading, prayer, and Christian fellowship. I would encourage you to use these tools to help you become the kind of Christian you want to be. If I can be of help to you, please feel free to contact me at pastor@quaccobaptist.org. |
