June 15, One more question
Over the past several days, we have encountered 6 questions in a series of devotions titled, “The Relationship.”
Thus far, we have asked:
Do you truly seek God with all your heart?
Which best defines your life: being like Christ or being in Christ?
Are you spiritually hungry and thirsty, or are you easily satisfied with brief moments of religious involvement?
Do you truly own your Christian identity, or are you living vicariously through the programs of the church?
Is Jesus the true orientation of your life, or have you reduced Him to only one expression of your life’s commitments?
Which perspective do you live by most: going to church or being the church?
The final question we address in this series simply asks, “do you truly desire to grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus?”
I venture to say that most Christians quickly respond “yes” to the above question. However, if the answer is “yes,” then a simple follow-up question is required: what are you doing at this present moment to see this deeper growth as a reality in your life? I offer three very foundational but often neglected areas of your own personal spiritual growth that I believe are absolutely necessary to “rethink” if you are to move deeper in your walk with Christ.
First, consider the time you spend in prayer. While prayer seems to be a normal discipline in most of our lives, this consideration concerns “the time” one spends in prayer. I emphasize “time” not for the purpose of duration, but rather for the purpose of meaningfulness. For something as relational as prayer to be meaningful, time is required. You cannot grow deeper without a meaningful prayer life. The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). Though a person cannot incessantly pray in words on bended knees, the mind can be held continuously in an attitude of prayer throughout the day. Paul intended this statement as a true exhortation and not something for a mere thought. This exhortation is to live in a devotional state of mind. Every impulse throughout the day should revolve around the supremacy of Jesus over our lives, and although never accomplished perfectly, our attitude or frame of mind should seek to promote Christ in every thought, and deed. If your heart is filled with the presence of God through His Spirit, and if your focus is the Lordship of Christ, then throughout the day communing with God for the purpose of honoring the name of Jesus becomes the spirit of prayer that helps you to engage your daily and earthly callings for the purpose and glory of God. Prayer is not only episodic (at specific times as morning, evening, or over a meal). Prayer represents your ongoing conversation with God. The language of your relationship with God is indeed a life of communication through prayer.
Second, consider your approach to reading and studying the Word of God. Initially, setting aside time each day to read God’s Word is paramount to one’s spiritual growth. Yet, again, I would caution against simply developing a duration of time, for the goal should be meaningfulness. And, for a meaningful time in God’s Word, continuing in the truths of God throughout the day stands as an absolutely necessity. James instructs,
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:23-24)
The emphasis here is upon disciplining one’s thoughts upon God’s truths. Throughout the day, many thoughts can enter our mind (some of God, and some not). Hiding God’s Word in our heart constitutes a continued frame of mind upon the truth God’s Scriptures reveal so that indeed we will not immediately forget what is in the mirror of God’s word concerning the present condition of our soul. Make time each day so that adequate time is given in God’s Word, reading and thinking about specific truths for a given day. I would then discern how to write a response – literally write out what you feel God has said to you from His Word. (I journal incessantly, and each day I write out from the perspective of what God has said to me, and what I need to say to Him in response.) However, if writing does not become a suitable discipline, discern how you might keep the truth alive in your heart throughout the day. Memorization of a verse or verses each morning represents another method from which many grow in God’s Truth. Keeping the devotional thoughts or the Scriptures close (on a digital device) throughout the day can offer opportunities to revisit the truth encountered earlier that day, and can become a great way to grow in the Scriptures. There are many other methods and approaches for keeping God’s Word perpetually alive in your heart, but the core discipline is clear: keeping God’s Word active in one’s thoughts throughout the day offers a more readied response of is Word to the encounters awaiting in your path. Ask God to give you a hunger for His Word when you awaken. And, then be ready with a discipline to keep a truth from His Word before you throughout the day: write it out; memorize it; revisit it! You will then be amazed at the increased opportunity to “apply it.” After all, is that not the goal?!
Third, consider your relationships. In fact, rethink your relationships. The Bible reminds us to “love one another earnestly” (I Peter 4:8). The Holman Christian Standard Bible translates, “keep your love for one another at full strength.” Why is this a consideration for personal spiritual growth? When we love in this way, we live out that which the devotional frame of mind (gained through an authentic prayer life, and through a genuine approach to God’s Word) has worked into us. We exercise the truth of our own walk of faith when we love. And, as we all know, exercise is the requirement for increased strength. So, exercise your relationship with Jesus by loving others genuinely. Love must be the outpouring of the spiritual growth within. Love others fervently. The BGEA (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) offered a way to rethink our relationships. The simplicity of this blessed me, and I pass this on to you:
“We’ve all had moments where we put tasks over people. Maybe you’ve found yourself engulfed in deadlines at work; barely coming up for air to chat with coworkers. Whether with your spouse, children, friends or even complete strangers—we’re each involved in some type of relationship. And the Bible says we should take them all seriously—whether we want to or not. So, Show your love. Saying “I love you” is meaningful but can resonate deeper with action behind it. Make a greater effort to pay attention to those around you and do something to communicate your love in a way that’s special to them. Forget about yourself. God’s love for you is the greatest example of how to love and care for others. There is no struggle we’ve had that Christ did not experience, yet He unselfishly gave of Himself to meet the needs of others. Extend grace. Can you think of a few individuals you’re not on good terms with? Difficult people aren’t excluded from our relationship building. Broken relationships are perhaps the most important to mend and improve. Love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5) and if you find yourself holding a grudge or avoiding someone because of the past, it may be time to extend grace.[1]
These are simple yet necessary expressions of love we must keep alive in our relationships. This represents a heart that is growing and maturing in Christlikeness. This becomes the foundational demonstration of one’s heart for Jesus.
So, are you desiring to grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus? Among many other helps you can discover, remember these three: rethink how you pray; rethink how you apply God’s Word; rethink how you love others. If these considerations actually become genuine daily goals, there is no way your life of faith will not grow. Resolve to grow deeper.
Blessings.
[1] Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, How to Dive Into Your Walk (June 30, 2015).