Don’t Just Bud–Flower!!

Growth in our Christian life is necessary. It is expected by our Lord and the instructions are available in His word. The Holy Spirit is available to assist, but the actual growth depends on us, individually. Believing that God exists, that He takes an interest in our lives and there is more to life than this world are only the first steps.

Following salvation - the very first step, but no place to stop - we are given opportunities to serve. Paul wrote about why we were created:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 KJV)

Good works covers a lot of territory, so I don't understand why people think Christians do little more than meet together on Sunday morning, sing a few hymns, make an announcement or two, listen (or sleep) through a sermon - job complete until next week.  Sorry - that's a poor excuse for "good works" that God ordained. What are the good works you have in mind? Doing any of them? If not, why not? If so, share with us, please.

Some where along the way, we become frustrated. Surely "this" is not what God had in mind!!  That comes to all of us. What we thought we were called to do is not successful - in our minds, or in the words of those who criticize our good works. Often, this stage is reached when we are very self-satisfied about what we are doing. Why, we have the greatest understanding of God's plan, don't we?  Haven't we recognized new thoughts, new ideas that appear to have been hidden from others?

Being self-sufficient brings pridefulness and serious frustration. At this point it becomes very easy to back away from God instead of taking the next step – total dependence.  Oh, we accepted that He is divine, but we've retained so much our selves that we stopped becoming His image:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29 KJV)

Do we really love God - enough to follow the greatest law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37 KJV)

Or are we keeping "this" little thing that we really, really like, want and can take care of separate and apart from what God called us to do?  Are we allowing pride in our own abilities, discouragement that our plans are not panning out, or distractions (perhaps temptations??) to remove our focus from God's will?

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:7-8 KJV)

The frustration is ours, the solution is God.