Unworthy

We put categories on our faith and "place" in the church.  "Good Christian" vs "Bad Christian" and we tend to use those labels  to look up to other Christians in a way that, at times, can put a barrier between us and Christ. We approach our relationship with God like a degree at a university; we have to go through the "internship period" before taking on the label of a "good Christian". While fellowship and relationship are essential; there is no "graduating" in your relationship. There are no levels. We are all at level 0 and if we know that, that's where God can use us best.


In John 3 Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, who was a teacher of the law in Israel, about being born again. He would have been considered by the Jewish people a "level 10" in experience and knowledge in religious matters.  Jesus tells him (v3) "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Nicodemus questions him by saying (v4) "How can a man be born when he is old?", "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born.". So Jesus scolds him by saying (v10) "You are Israel's teacher, and do you not understand these things?" 
Nicodemus was a skeptic. A man of knowledge and of study. His heart was resistant to the wisdom that Jesus was sharing with him likely because he felt he already knew a great deal.

Jumping ahead to chapter 4 we find Jesus at the well. He is resting; waiting for his disciples to return from getting food and a Samaritan woman came to the well. To the Jews, the Samaritans were considered "unclean". They did not associate with one another; let alone share food and water. So when Jesus asked for a drink of water she said (v9)"You are a Jew and I am Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?".  Do to social status she immediately felt humbled and unworthy. This opened a door for Jesus to share with her. He explained to her about living water. (v13) "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  She didn't mock him. She Didn't argue. She didn't say "psh... there is no such thing as water you only have to drink once!"  She took a leap of faith and figuratively said "where do I sign?!". Jesus went on to tell her who he was (which was an honor) and about her own life and who she was so she would have a testimony to share.


She did too!! She immediately shared with everyone; and as a result a multitude of people were saved!

John 4:39-42

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

She was "unclean", "lower class", "ignorant", and a woman but because of her willingness to humble herself and be taught at the foot of Jesus he was able to use her in a powerful way. He was able to do more with that Samaritan woman than he was Nicodemus, a supposed religious leader of his time.


There is no graduating to a higher level Christian. There is only the Grace of the Lord. The grace that covers us all the same. There is only our humility to gulp at Christ's living water and hungerly pursue wisdom while knowing in our hearts that no matter what we learn at his feet we are ignorant. The only graduation is the one in which we graduate from this world into the presence of Jesus.

Accept God's Grace. Stand shoulder to shoulder with both your elders and those who are infants in Christ; for we should all be on our knees in humble pursuit of the same wisdom that only comes from Him.

Slow and painful

We are but a chrysalis of what God has in store for us. Being made new in Christ is not often a flash of light followed by a flood of wisdom and epiphanies. It's slow and sometimes very painful growth. God can change a heart in a moment, but a mind is stubborn. Our thoughts must be refined in fire; burn away the sinful nature to purify our focus. Where are thoughts go; we will follow.

1 Peter 1:6-9
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith the salvation of your souls." 

Sometimes grief can hit us so hard that we don't want to move forward in faith. Somewhere inside of us there lies a fear that if we keep growing- something else, equally or more painful, might happen. As if we are navigating a minefield of sorrow and with each step we risk our own or someone else's destruction.
Our mind tells us that if remain dormant we can freeze frame the moment.  I know I can handle where I am. I may fail if I move forward.  

The reality is that in remaining dormant in an attempt to control your environment and hide from the unknown; you are roadblocking your faith which is roadblocking your relationship with God.

With growth there are inevitable growing pains.  

My daughter is 4 and is reaching a growth spurt, shooting her up in her clothing sizes and making her ridiculously clumsy.  We're talking running into walls, knocking over drinks, tripping over her own feet... clumsy.  She falls down, cries, and picks herself up. She spills, gets frustrated, and cleans up her mess.  I encourage her and advise her.

Imagine if  she just gave up. She fell down... and just stayed there. I'm tired of falling down so I am just going to sit here for the remainder of my life! 
or if she left her messes... spilled and then allowed it to sit there rotting away her surroundings and endangering others who might slip on that spilled water or milk sprayed all over the floor.

In the conditions where you can see the immediate results; the solution is obvious but when it's less obvious consequences we think we can ignore the problems. Bury them, or worse  let them build walls between us and others or us and God.
Nothing is more debilitating in your relationship with God than building barriers between him and your heart.

Don't fear the growing pains. Don't condemn yourself for them. Learn, grow, and accept God's grace.

Love and trust in the One you cannot see.  Don't be afraid of trials; being made new in Christ may take patience, but  it is a celebration.

what do you want?

In John 1 Jesus was being followed by two of the disciples and he turned and asked Jesus turned and asked "What do you want?"  they asked where he was staying and followed him there.

If Jesus were to look you in the eye and say "What do you want?"; what would you say? What would you tell him? Would you have an answer?

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

We must determine what our heart's desire truly is. What is it we want?
Is what we want something that God would want for us? 

That is to say... will it bring us closer to God? 

Have we considered desires impact on our relationship with God?

Are we first and foremost desiring just to be where the Lord is? Content to follow him in his work?

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

... or is the your relationship with him a footnote on your desires.
"Give me this promotion at work and I will have more time to read the Bible!"
instead of...
"I make time for you Lord to teach me to be the best employee and provider I can be."

I pray today that my desires are at the heels of Jesus. That there is no inhibition in my requests  because they are primarily to glorify God.