Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
Last Sunday the message from Heb. 12:14-17 focused on four things we need to take with us on our journey to spiritual maturity, and eventually to our final home, the Heavenly City of God. These four are: a peaceable attitude (making every effort to live in peace with everyone), a desire for holiness in our daily living, a commitment to cultivate the grace of God by making the most of every opportunity God gives us to grow in Him, and moral purity.
Just as I shared how I have written a list of all the things I need to include when packing for trips overseas so I would not leave home without them, it might not be a bad idea to write down these four things, and probably others as well. Then place this list where you will be sure to see it every day. This way you can start the day by reviewing this list, praying that God will help you take these four elements of Christian living with you throughout the day. Thus, you won’t find yourself in the midst of some situation in your ongoing pilgrimage where you have to respond and then realize you don’t have what it takes to respond appropriately because that is not a part of who you are.
As I mentioned on Sunday, there are other item besides these four that are crucially important to take with us on our spiritual journey: regular Scripture reading, prayer, worship, meaningful fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ, witnessing, a heart to obey Christ, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), etc.
We do not do this in a legalistic way, as if these are simply rules to obey. Rather we do this, first of all, in response to and in gratitude for the abundant grace and mercy God has already shown us. Secondly, we do this because this is how we live life in its deepest and most authentic sense. This is how God created us to live, and as we strive by His grace to live this way, we will experience true joy and satisfaction.
So, let us make it our goal and our practice to be well-equipped for our spiritual journey by taking with us all the things that we need.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob