Being in Cuenca, Ecuador the first few months was a mind
boggler for me. Everything of course is
in Spanish. It all sounded "jibberish"
to me, because I knew nothing regarding the language. Well maybe "Hola, si, no..." It was frustrating, scary at times, and a
challenge.
Of course all that is required is: "Learn the Language!"
In God's economy, His kingdom, His church, His body, and all
that He is involves spiritual language so to speak. If one is born into sin, lived in the world
and comes to Christ to receive Him as Life Eternal - well, we are born babes -
born of the Spirit into a absolutely different realm.
Colossians tells us we are transferred - conveyed into the
kingdom of the Son of His Love.
Peter tells us we've been born again of incorruptible Seed
and as newborn babes, receive milk and grow thereby.
Through spiritual maturity and growth, our language changes,
our thinking comes into line of God's Son - this is partly what it means to be
conformed to His image.
We already are Partakers of Him, His Divine Nature, and have
the mind of Christ. Scriptures declares
it so.
We are warned about following principles of the world,
doctrines of men, making ourselves subject to this present world and its
fashions (which are evil), instead of holding fast to Jesus Christ, our Head
who nourishes, cherishes, builds us up, causes grow by His life, AND teaches us
by His Spirit, ALL the things that are true and not of a lie.
It should be, that after many years of walking with the
Lord, being in His Word, listening and growing in grace, my speech should
change - my understanding will be different, my heart should be soft and
teachable all the time.
So now, when we approach God's Word and time with Him, we
have a spiritual mind and heart - easier to "hear" the truth - not
cross-wired, not constantly going "huh, huh, huh - duh, duh, duh?"
In this coming new year, we have a wonderful opportunity to
review our lives - nothing wrong with that!
We have a wonderful opportunity to scan the pages of the book of our
lives and find out where we really are.
Why would someone possibly not do this?
Here are some reasons:
1) Fear. Fear they have not grown as much as they
could have and do not want to face that reality.
2) Fear that God
would not allow them to pursue that precious grace and knowledge He offered way
back when we were
first born again.
3) Shame. Shame that we are not as mature we thought we
were.
Those are some of the reasons, but I guess each individual
heart knows what their personal "weight" or stumbling block is.
Now for the good news.
The good news is the parable Jesus shared about those who went to work
in the field. Some went early in the day
and worked ALL day long. Then there were
those who came later in the day, but still worked as hard. At the end of the day when He gave out wages,
He gave them all the same. Someone
complained - it was those who had worked longer than the others. But the Lord said He was being gracious to
all.
God is gracious - He is so merciful and kind. This is what a person needs to be drawn to -
that one may come to Him at all times about all things - to receive His
goodness and mercy - no matter what.
It is Satan's lie that says always "It's too
late," - maybe in the natural in might be too late to apply for the
Olympics and win a gold medal - but it's never too late to come to God and
learn His Son - and God's fullness of grace, Spirit, and Word.
Just need to take Him up on His offer to come, open the
heart, and receive all that He would teach us and show us. Whether early in the Day, or Later in the Day,
"go for the gold in knowing Him!"
Feliz Año Nuevo -
Happy New Year!
Here's to growing in grace and in the knowledge of God's
Son,
Sue Gaither
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