the basic message #E8
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
I’ve noticed that new Christians are almost apologetic about being in the early stages of their walk with Christ. Rejoice and be proud! Christianity is one of the few categories in life in which those just beginning may be better than those who are “veterans”. How? Nearly all new Christians are pumped-up about their discovery, and want to tell others about it. Many “veteran” Christians, on the other hand, have become “dignified” in their walk, which stated another way means that they have become complacent.
Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
I love this verse, largely because Isaiah didn’t say, “uh, I guess I’ll go…”. Nope, he said “Here am I. Send me!” There’s a lot of enthusiasm there that many Christians have initially that’s lost over time. Here’s a question for all Christians, new or old: How has your life changed during your walk with Christ? For those just starting, the stories will be plentiful, but how about those of you 10, 20, 50 years in your walk? May I be blunt? If you don’t have at least one great story about Christ in your life during the past year, you might need to go back to the well.
1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Confidence is an important characteristic of Christians. We should be, considering who watches over us. New converts enjoy walking in the protection of God, but as the years pass, we tend to believe we can walk alone with the same protection. Years ago, I wouldn’t get in my truck without having a handgun under the seat. I remember a situation in which I felt threatened and reached under the seat to discover the pistol wasn’t there. I felt totally vulnerable and unprotected at that moment. When we venture in areas without the protection of Jesus Christ, we also become vulnerable.