Have you ever taken a shortcut? I live for shortcuts. I love side streets and back roads that save time and keep you moving toward the desired destination. I recently bought a GPS unit, in part, so I can find additional routes that can save time.
Unfortunately, I have discovered there are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity! If a person wants his or her life to count for God in a significant way, there is no shortcut. It’s not all that complicated, but, it’s certainly not easy! No shortcut will lead you into the power of God and impact for His kingdom.
How can a Christian make a Godly impact on his world? The answer can be found in a simple Scripture written by the Apostle Paul to the church of Galatia. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul alludes to this same truth in 2 Corinthians 12 when he tells about his William Shatner, Star Trek experience of being “beamed up” into Heaven where the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responded by saying, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
These verses teach us that we cannot rely upon our own strengths to accomplish God’s will. We will only see the power of God when we are filled with His presence and His power! We trust Him to do what only He can do. The formula for spiritual success then is as follows:
Surrender + faith = God’s Power
We do not apply this formula to our lives one time and then that’s it! No, we apply it daily–sometimes several times throughout the day. Walking with Christ implies a journey where we take step after step. Sometimes we will run; sometimes we will walk; sometimes we will stand still!
For more information about spiritual maturity and discipleship, see….
- Disciples Must Dare to be Different
- The Value of a List
- Ordering Your Private World
- Are You Spiritually Healthy?
- Discipleship Requirements
- How to Finish Well, Part 1
- How to Finish Well, Part 2
- Spiritual Gravity
- Created to Become Like Christ
- Read the Bible
- What Is A Disciple?
- A to Z Guide for Spiritual Growth, Part 1
- A to Z Guide for Spiritual Growth, Part 2
- A to Z Guide for Spiritual Growth, Part 3
