Daily Devotional
Keep Growing in Jesus
“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”
1 John 2:12-14
October 10, 2023
Ponder This
Have you ever heard anybody say, “If that’s a Christian, I don’t want to be one”? They’re usually looking at a little baby Christian. Thank God for little baby Christians, but little baby Christians must grow up. When you get saved, nobody is saved full grown. Believers must grow up. I used to think that a great church was one in which everybody was a mature Christian. That’s not a great church; that’s a failing church. That would be like saying a great home is a home where there are all adults and there are no children or grandchildren. That’s not a great home.
Thank God for the spilled milk, thank God for the dirty diapers, thank God for the Cheerios on the floor. We need to make these baby Christians who come to Jesus feel at home and loved. The Church in one sense is a maternity ward. The problem is some stay in the maternity ward nursery far too long. You can choose to be different but when you are still on the bottle, still sucking your thumb, not growing, not serving, not working, having to be served, still selfish, still rude, still crude, still lazy, and still unthoughtful, there is a problem. You’re to grow. There is a time for spiritual childhood, but all are called to maturity.
- What are the areas of your faith where you need to grow?
- Who is a new Christian you know? How can you pour into that believer?
Practice This
Ask a fellow believer to keep you accountable for growth in Christian maturity.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
