Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:23:55 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Aug. 29); BP: Heb. 5:11-6:8; RBTTY: I Cor. 10:19-33; Ps. 126-127
August 29 “On Growing Strong In the Faith”
“But strong meat belongs to them who are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection—not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works and of faith toward God.”
Hebrews 5:14-6:1
Growing deeper will take effort, but the results will be worth it.
It’s easy to tell the mettle of one’s character when they’re going
through difficult times. The fainthearted will quickly fall by the wayside,
waving the white flag of surrender at the first sign of hardship and
heartache. However, as “soldiers of the Cross” we should never be counted
in their number—especially when the resurrected Lord lives within our heart.
The author of Hebrews knew his readers were being sorely tried because
of their faith. He knew they were both “world-and-war-weary” in the “race
that was set before them” (Heb. 12:1c). That’s why he was exhorting them
(and us) to “grow up and grow strong” in the faith—lest we be tempted to
succumb when our burdens grow heavy and our pressure grows strong.
One problem in “holding fast our faith” (4:14) is our failure to “grow
deep” in faith. Instead of maturing spiritually through daily, personal
prayer and Bible study, we stunt our growth through the sins of apathy and
neglect. We wait for someone else to spoon-feed us the Word, forgetting
that it’s our individual responsibility to “study to show ourselves approved
unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word
of truth” (II Tim. 2:15).
Instead of “growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ” (II Pet. 3:18), we’re content with “passive progress”—i.e.,
trying to spiritually mature with no effort on our part. No wonder we’re so
physically overweight and spiritual emaciated!
If we are to ever to become proficient “teachers” in the faith and move
from spiritual powdered milk to steak and baked potatoes, we must “exercise
our faith.” Only then will we understand the adage that says, “Faith is
like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes!” So
true, so true.
Oh, dear Pilgrim, the Lord uses problems and pressures in our lives to
transform us into His image. That’s why we must consciously will ourselves
to “grow deeper in grace” through a daily “communion-union” with Him. In so
doing we shall move on beyond the “ABC’s” of the faith and into the deeper
realms of the Christ-life.
The “handwriting is definitely on the wall” in our world today. The
“beginning of sorrows” (Mt. 24:8) is here. Therefore, if we are to keep
from “falling away” and becoming like a “barren, good-for-nothing, cursed
field” (Heb. 6:8), we must commit our lives anew to the One Who “endured the
Cross and despised the shame, for the joy that was set before Him” (Heb.
12:2b). Help us, dear Holy Spirit.
_________________________________________________________________
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