When someone says that they believe in God and they love God, I would be inclined to ask them, “Who is your God?”
When I was growing up, early adolescent through teen years, I believed in ‘a God’. I knew that a God had to have created our earth. How else did we get here? I should go ahead and quote Genesis 1:1, but at that age, I wasn’t familiar with God’s word. I didn’t know what His word said. I didn’t dismiss His existence, but I didn’t truly know Jesus or the Holy Spirit. I didn’t know, or believe in at that time, of our triune God.
I was taken to church here and there, I owned a bible, sometimes people prayed for our meals, I went to a Young Life meeting a couple times, and even VBS one or two summers. I probably would have called myself a Christian if you asked me. However, there was something lacking: an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Conversations about our Lord. Family bible reading time. Prayer time as a family. The essentials of a home that’s living for Christ.
As I look back on those adolescent years in my life, I can only thank God for saving me when He did (age 21/22).I was lost in the world in my late teens and early years of college. I didn’t really give much thought to who Jesus was. I was twenty-two when I got baptized and gave my life to Christ. I still struggled with worldly ways those first several years of following the Lord, but at that point I had the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, convicting me of my sin. I was genuine about my repentance. I was slowly growing in my walk with Him. Aren’t all brothers and sisters in Christ being sanctified as the days and years pass by?
The biggest thing that’s transformed my walk with the Lord over the last three years, compared to the early years of my salvation, has been surrounding myself with other followers of Christ. It’s important to be in fellowship with those who love the Lord. Those who want to talk about the Lord. Those who are unashamed to profess the gospel and shout Jesus is King! On the other hand, we are also called to make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19), so being around unbelievers and those who may not have a faithful walk with Jesus is very important too. I’m just saying that when I was a babe in Christ (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Hebrews 5:13-14), I needed wise Christian counsel in my life to help grow my faith–and that didn’t happen until about five-ish years after I was baptized. Again, it’s called sanctification, brothers and sisters. We continually need to be sanctified, growing to become more like Christ, until we are sitting in heaven with Jesus.
During church today, our pastor asked the question, “Are you a casual Christian?” I think that’s a fitting end to this blog post to ask yourself in today’s culture, and also as I reminisced on my own childhood faith. Let’s encourage each other to draw closer to Christ. To truly seek an intimate relationship with Him (Matthew 22:37-38). To pick up our bibles and read His word daily (Matthew 4:4). To earnestly pray, worship, and give thanks to our One and Only God throughout the day (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). To stand firm on the truth of God in a wicked and lost world. Our hope isn’t in this world–it’s found in Christ (1 John 4:4, John 17:14-16).
Jesus hasn’t come back yet, which means there’s still time for you to accept Him into your heart and follow Him all the days of your life. We must die to ourselves and take up our cross daily to follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). There’s hope for everyone who’s committed to doing that. It won’t always be a walk in the park in this earthly life, which is why we must keep our eyes on eternity. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of this earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).
How will you glorify God this week? Be blessed, mamas, sisters, and friends!
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