Belief and Behavior…Being then Doing!

We are all different. Shocking, isn’t it? We all grow and mature physically, spiritually, intellectually and emotionally at different levels. Seriously. We are not all alike and will not grow at the same rates. No one can really put a label on this growth but many intellectuals have tried. As we go through our stages of life from infancy (complete dependence on our parents) to fully devoted, mature followers of Jesus Christ (complete dependence on Him) there are many situations and circumstances along the journey that teach us.

Failure is always an option. Failing is always the greatest teacher to growth. “I’ll never do that again!” we cry out. If we learn from our failing then we are not failures. We never should label ourselves or let others label us as failures. We need to stop living as failures and live, truly live. life abundantly, full of joy, knowing we are a redeemed people who continue to mature and learn. Life long learners will always have the advantage over a life of continuous failing at the same mistakes without learning from them.

Now the best part…
We are all created by God Himself, our Father in heaven, to be saved by His Son Jesus Christ. It is Jesus, His Son, who hands out certain gifts to believers in Him. These gifts are used to glorify God and help others know Him more. They are not handed out for personal edification.

Church, listen again, as Paul explains our differences and our oneness…

Ephesians 4, The Message (One bite at a time)

7-13 But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,

He climbed the high mountain,
He captured the enemy and seized the booty,
He handed it all out in gifts to the people.

Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

14-16 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

What do we learn and awesome to think about?
–We are ALL gifted.
–We fail but we are not failures. We are life-long learners.
–We are ALL loved by God.
–We ALL need to love God back and love each other like God loves us…unconditionally.
–We ALL need to exercise our God-given gifts, in His Name, for His glory.
–We ALL need to grow up, please.
–“We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.”

Dear Heavenly Father, You teach us so well. Go with us still, forgive our sin, pick us up and help us learn well. Help us to be with You first then to be gracious, loving and kind to everyone we meet today on this journey here. We take our lead from You, the Source. In Jesus Name, Amen