Orlando, FL 2001: On his 8th birthday, with “careful examination,” Isaiah evaluated his new baby turtle. Now, having grown-up much over the ensuing 7.5 years, both he and “Chomper” thrive even at new levels of expectation. May your own “careful examination” also deliver you to ever-new spiritual heights.
From Trent Ling:
Spiritually, Christ’s Church is by far the busiest of all ports. There are countless moving parts in addition to an uncharted depth of instruction, authority, and possibility. Take for example, Paul’s par-for-the-course remarks to Timothy:
“Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.” 2 Timothy 4:9-13.
Fortunately, but challengingly, life in this ministry resounds similarly. We see great struggle and failure along with remarkable perseverance and victory. In it all, we are nothing but a rag-tag band of ordinary people foolish enough to dare to try the bible on its own terms. We are constantly out of our league and over our head. We, like Paul’s companions, are an imperfect patchwork of mere disciples willing to pick up the unacceptable spiritual slack wherever and whenever necessary. Such commitment requires our submission to times, seasons and proposals that make us grow jaggedly like a boy and his baby turtle.
Twenty-Two “time, season, and proposal” letters for this ministry over the past two years have been posted to the disciples‘ private website on the “Changes” Page. These letters provide fellowship with Paul’s revolving door ministry quoted above. Beyond that, it is now time for disciples to examine their lives and these letters, side-by-side. Individually, we must prove ourselves obedient to Paul’s minimal command: “only let us live up to what we have already attained.” Philippians 3:16. We must address and fix our shortcomings revealed in this careful examination. From there, we will hit the individual spiritual growth spurts we thought were only showing in our rearview mirrors. Become like a child by taking a real look today, tomorrow, and forever. May your smallness of today provide a startling contrast to your tomorrow. And, may God be glorified and served by the upheaval.
Please feel free to join and further the discussion via the options below. No email or website information is required to post comments (unless you seek the notifications offered).