By Elizabeth Cooper
Tuesday 28 July 2020
YOUR PERSONAL GROWTH JOURNEY – a bit like my bike ride!
Just before we had to close the Church because of the pandemic, we were following a theme in our Sunday services on 'LIFE TOGETHER'. Through the teachings we were encouraging everyone to take hold of their personal growth journey – to look for the next step in their Christian growth.
I was reminded of this when we went a bike ride the other day: my first for 18 months!
We set a target and started out.
But it wasn't long before I was tired and needed a rest, a drink, some encouragement.
The whole bike ride was HARD work and my body was screaming out "what are you doing? You can't do this!"
But I did.
Not in record time; not alone; not without encouragement; not without a laugh on the way – but I did it.
When I finished - after the legs stopped shaking - I felt a sense of achievement and it made me think about our Christian life.
Whatever your next step is, this isolation time hasn't changed the need for personal growth. In fact, now may give you more time to study, pray and grow.
And you don't have to do it alone – help is always at hand. We are proving very adept at keeping in touch by various media.
So, I want to encourage you to take some time to evaluate with God what your next step is.
The Bible encourages us to 'grow up' and 'mature':
Hebrews 6:1-20 ESV
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ...
I know it may seem hard at first to set your target and set out but – you don't have to do it in record time, or alone, or without encouragement, or without a laugh. And, just like my next bike ride, it will get easier and more rewarding as you continue.
For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14–21
Ask the Lord to take you deeper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw
speak O Lord until your Church is built and the earth is filled with your Glory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlJj8xkds
with love to all brothers and sister in Christ – missing you guys, cant wait for our reunion celebration!
Elizabeth