Whoever has the son of God has God’s life ….. 1 John 5:12
It is interesting how many examples of the spiritual life can be found mirrored in physical life. This morning I was praying for a friend who is in the early weeks of pregnancy. Because she has had a number of miscarriages, this tiny baby has been the subject of much prayer and medical care.
What we have learned through this case, is the importance of the placenta firmly adhering to a healthy, unscarred part of the uterus wall to ensure that a good steady blood supply can feed this precious child. This is vital to the baby’s health and so that a miscarriage doesn’t occur in these formative weeks.
The spiritual life is so similar in its formation. Sometimes we get excited about ‘new babies’ in Christ but time and again we become disappointed when they fall by the wayside. Just like my friend’s baby these new babes in Christ need to be nurtured, encouraged and fed in order to adhere well in the body of Christ. For that to happen is at least a twofold process but also an ongoing one.
The first part is for every new believer to have at least one person who will befriend them and teach them God’s way of living and how Kingdom life is developed in them as they grow. This takes love, perseverance patience and prayer on the part of the nurturer. We are told to ‘make disciples’, not get converts. Discipleship is a lifelong process for each and everyone of us and we can’t successfully teach others how to love God and walk in his word if we are not doing it ourselves. We too must continue to draw near to God daily.
The second part is for the new believer to begin to adhere to the body of Christ. This is something that only they can do. Just like my friend’s baby has to make its own way of adhering to the healthy part of the uterus where it can be nourished and grow, the new believer must do this part for themselves. We can encourage and lead. but can’t actually make it happen. Also for this to happen the body of Christ must be welcoming and healthy for this new life to come into.
For our life in Christ to remain healthy and viable we must stay united with Him. We are to be joined to him who is our life. We cannot grow and remain healthily engaged and useful in the body of Christ if we do not spend time in fellowship with other believers and make ourselves available for God’s service. I believe that this is why so many fall away from Christ. They are not allowing themselves to be nourished and enriched by hearing of God’s word through which our faith grows strong (Romans 10:17), fellowshipping with believers regularly, then finding their own place of service in the Kingdom.
Our new life in Christ is for our benefit and blessing but that doesn’t become a reality until we live in constant union with him and his people. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to continue meeting together to encourage and warn each other (about staying hooked into God), and so much more as the day of his coming back draws near. Are you living a full life?
Prayer: Jesus, help me to adhere well to you and to your people so that I may learn to have the fullness of life you came to give me. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment