Confusion Is No Excuse
Sun, December 11, 2011 | Post a Comment | 
We’re supposed to “Grow” in Christ but how?
The Bible gives us instruction about how to move forward in our Christian lives. Here’s one key verse…
“I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for (Philippians 3:12)
Here’s the Apostle Paul’s comment on his walk of faith. Even the Apostle Paul didn’t know it all about the Christian life. But he knew he needed to “move on” even though he was not sure how it all would unfold.
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” Corinthians 5:7
However he knew a lot.
He knew that it was a process. He knew that it was a “walk” of faith. One step at a time. He also knew the end result, and that is that “Christ would be fully formed in him” (Paul). At that point it would be…
“Not I, but Christ.” Galatians 2:20.
Paul knew that he had to press on.
He knew that he could not be casual or passive about growing in Christ. Why do we have to grow? It’s our new nature, we have a new life. Like a seed put into the ground it’s not a big effort, it’s what will happen if we stay in the right environment. That’s why he says,
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:3-5
There is a plan and process for our Spiritual Growth
We don’t grow because we have now decided that we’re really going to follow the our Boy Scout and Girl Scout pledge of do’s and don’ts. No, we grow step by step. Day by day, step by step, we abide in him, we keep our faith in him, and we grow, we learn, we change.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:2
This is also confusing
We have been given much guidance in the bible and especially in the New Testament in the writings of the apostle Paul about this new life. God will always keep us in the dark while we’re here on Earth to keep us honest and to keep us trusting Him for guidance and strength.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” Corinthians 1:12
If he showed us our future and what He has planned for us to do and achieve, he knows our nature would be to immediately fall back and try to do it on our own power and then we would fail miserably. It’s for our own good he keeps us in the dark. He tells us where we’re headed but regarding our path He usually only shows us enough so we can make a step forward. As he gives us more light and clarity we take steps forward. When the light is not there we wait, we pause, we pray, until he sheds more light. We keep our eyes looking up and looking forward…
“Press On to the High Calling of God." Philippians 3:13
Don’t be surprised when you’re confused.
We all get confused. We all get discouraged. We all question things. Even the apostle Paul felt that way at times, but that’s no excuse for not trusting. That’s no excuse for not moving forward and taking the steps that we do know we need to take. Don’t be surprised because that’s the way God operates. He has to do it that way so we will continue to remain dependent on Him.
We need to have the faith of Ann Frank’s father
When Ann Frank pestered her father constantly asking, 'Where are tickets? We’re supposed to catch the train and leave and escape, but we don’t have tickets. Have you bought the tickets? Where can we get the tickets?' Her father looked at her and said “Ann, when it comes time to step on the train… the tickets will be there, God will provide.” We know we need many things in the future things we don’t have now. It’s not our job to figure out how to get them on our own power, it’s our job to trust God to provide for at the proper time.