Soak it Up
We all go through various "faith walk" stages. There are times we are very dry and wonder "Where in this world is God?" There are other times that we can't soak in all the goodness we are learning fast enough.
Praying this morning for God to direct my writing the word sponge came to mind. Heading to Biblegateway I searched "soak up" and actually found 7 scripture possibilities in The Message. Hebrews 6:1-12 is the one which best reflected the book by John Ortberg, which I have nearly completed. The Life You've Always Wanted.
6 1-3 So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!
4-8 Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us—if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why, they’ve re-crucified Jesus! They’ve repudiated him in public! Parched ground that soaks up the rain and then produces an abundance of carrots and corn for its gardener gets God’s “Well done!” But if it produces weeds and thistles, it’s more likely to get cussed out. Fields like that are burned, not harvested.
9-12 I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
In chapter 9 of Ortberg's book, "The Guided Life" he is discussing being led by the Holy Spirit. Listen in to his recommendation:
"A test to know whether we really want God's guidance is to ask:
How often do I seek God's guidance when I'm not facing trouble or a difficult decision? Start seeking guidance for the growth of your soul. Ask:
How do I become a more truthful person?
Whom do I know who can teach me to pray in a way that will nourish my soul?
What practice will enable me to live in joy continually?
God's purpose in guidance is not to get us to perform the right actions.
His purpose is to help us become the right kind of people."
So let's soak up all the goodness we can get from God's Word and be like those who stay the course, committed to their faith!
