Seeking Spiritual Nourishment
written at Sunday, September 12, 2010
A few thoughts have been running through my mind over the last few weeks on ministry and personal spiritual growth and the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment. I will try to sum up my thoughts into 2 main points.
Firstly, in many instances, I have looked around and thought to myself, "He has so much knowledge, he is so well-read, so well-versed, with a bounty of experience in ministry and teaching. I want to be like that." Losing the focus and therefore losing the fundamental reason of why I should study the Scriptures or seek to grow in my Christian faith, which is to know more about God, learn more about His ways, what He has done, who He is, who I am in Him, who we are in Him, how to live a life for Him, how to have a personal relationship with Him, how to serve others, how to share His gospel with the people around me.
It isn't to impress, it isn't to seek the acceptance or favour of others, or the stamp of approval to show that I am somewhat "qualified" enough. But at the same time, there is the importance of reading God's word and asking Him to grant you wisdom and sensitivity to His spirit to discern false teachings and things which are not of Him. I guess the focus, motive and perspective has to be right.
Secondly, there is another aspect, it is that of serving. I can be involved in Sunday school, University student ministries, small groups. When you are serving in a ministry, let's say, in Sunday School, with the little ones, there will be a difference in spiritual maturity. Could it be a pride issue as well? Of course! I believe that we as humans have this innate tendency to compare, we love to make comparisons in the light of other people's achievements, qualification, maturity, personality, material factors and backgrounds.
Making the comparisons to one's spiritual maturity in the light of yours comes down to pride and having the lack of humility to acknowledge that none of us are good enough by ourselves, we need Christ in our lives. I think we can be so caught up in these things that we forget about our own spiritual growth. I have to remember to constantly challenge myself with questions about my personal spiritual journey and relationship with the Lord.
Who is the benchmark? Once again, I am reminded that it isn't people who are the benchmark, rather the desire to be more like Christ, to be more like Jesus. This will be a refining process that will take an entire lifetime
So to you who is reading, who can relate, let's challenge ourselves and question our motives.
I drew something from Spurgeon's sermon that I read online...
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling."
Yea, more than this, you will need divine aid, even in coming to Christ—
"O, for this no strength have I,
My strength is at thy feet to lie."
Seeking Spiritual Nourishment
written at Sunday, September 12, 2010
A few thoughts have been running through my mind over the last few weeks on ministry and personal spiritual growth and the importance of seeking spiritual nourishment. I will try to sum up my thoughts into 2 main points.
Firstly, in many instances, I have looked around and thought to myself, "He has so much knowledge, he is so well-read, so well-versed, with a bounty of experience in ministry and teaching. I want to be like that." Losing the focus and therefore losing the fundamental reason of why I should study the Scriptures or seek to grow in my Christian faith, which is to know more about God, learn more about His ways, what He has done, who He is, who I am in Him, who we are in Him, how to live a life for Him, how to have a personal relationship with Him, how to serve others, how to share His gospel with the people around me.
It isn't to impress, it isn't to seek the acceptance or favour of others, or the stamp of approval to show that I am somewhat "qualified" enough. But at the same time, there is the importance of reading God's word and asking Him to grant you wisdom and sensitivity to His spirit to discern false teachings and things which are not of Him. I guess the focus, motive and perspective has to be right.
Secondly, there is another aspect, it is that of serving. I can be involved in Sunday school, University student ministries, small groups. When you are serving in a ministry, let's say, in Sunday School, with the little ones, there will be a difference in spiritual maturity. Could it be a pride issue as well? Of course! I believe that we as humans have this innate tendency to compare, we love to make comparisons in the light of other people's achievements, qualification, maturity, personality, material factors and backgrounds.
Making the comparisons to one's spiritual maturity in the light of yours comes down to pride and having the lack of humility to acknowledge that none of us are good enough by ourselves, we need Christ in our lives. I think we can be so caught up in these things that we forget about our own spiritual growth. I have to remember to constantly challenge myself with questions about my personal spiritual journey and relationship with the Lord.
Who is the benchmark? Once again, I am reminded that it isn't people who are the benchmark, rather the desire to be more like Christ, to be more like Jesus. This will be a refining process that will take an entire lifetime
So to you who is reading, who can relate, let's challenge ourselves and question our motives.
I drew something from Spurgeon's sermon that I read online...
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling."
Yea, more than this, you will need divine aid, even in coming to Christ—
"O, for this no strength have I,
My strength is at thy feet to lie."
