Monday Morning Message - Grow up!

Trying something new on the blog...as always any feedback/suggestions are appreciated. The idea is to give you my Sunday morning sermon in 150 words or less. (Those of you who are part of my Sunday morning flock please hold your snide remarks about long-winded preachers!) So, here goes!

"Like new born infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation - if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2-3)

His name was Tim and he never grew up...literally. Confined to a wheelchair he moved through life much like any other 15 year old, only he lived with the constant threat of broken bones. Tim had brittle bone syndrome and he never grew up. Simple, everyday activities were a potential threat to his health. It was common to see him with a new cast or for him to be facing a new surgery. His body just never grew up.

I believe many Christians have a spiritual disease similar to Tim's physical disease in that they have failed to grow properly. Why is this? I think it is largely because many never intended to grow. I talk with so many who tell me of an initial rush of growth in their walk with the Lord that faded over time. They have become frustrated or disillusioned with pursuing God's plans, shouldn't He be pursuing them?

What is the solution to this dilemma? Grow! Peter encourages his readers to "long for the pure spiritual milk". He's telling us to crave the food that helps us to grow into salvation. Just as you are not likely to forget to eat today, let me encourage you to not neglect the feeding of the new life that is yours in Christ.

"Grow dear friends; but grow, I beseech you, in God's way, which is the only effectual way. See to it that you are planted in grace, and then let the divine Husbandman cultivate you in His own way and by His own means." Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life.