Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
1 Thessalonians 3:8 (NIV) "For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord."
I often been told that there a number of skills a young person should know firsthand before leaving to go to college or live on their own. This includes a working knowledge of basic, routine tasks that are necessary to everyday living. For instance, laundry, cooking, budgeting/saving money, car repair (tires, oil, and minor problems), people skills, and reading a map all make the list. Knowing how to accomplish these tasks can take a person a long way down the road of life and reach adult maturity.
In our spiritual lives, there also are certain basic concepts and tasks that we must understand before we can be entrusted with bigger responsibility and grow in our faith. Though this list is not exhaustive, these are the qualities I would consider when making such a list:
God does not want you to remain spiritually stagnant, immature, and dependent. He wants you to grow to such a place in your relationship with Him that you can sustain your faith in a hostile or pressure-packed environment and during rough times. He will give you all you need to live the Christian life successfully and to serve Him with confidence.
Faith Lesson: Before you accept more God-given responsibility, you have to master the basics of the Christian life.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
1 Thessalonians 3:8 (NIV) "For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord."
I often been told that there a number of skills a young person should know firsthand before leaving to go to college or live on their own. This includes a working knowledge of basic, routine tasks that are necessary to everyday living. For instance, laundry, cooking, budgeting/saving money, car repair (tires, oil, and minor problems), people skills, and reading a map all make the list. Knowing how to accomplish these tasks can take a person a long way down the road of life and reach adult maturity.
In our spiritual lives, there also are certain basic concepts and tasks that we must understand before we can be entrusted with bigger responsibility and grow in our faith. Though this list is not exhaustive, these are the qualities I would consider when making such a list:
- You must know your way around the Bible, which means you become familiar with the Old and New Testaments and memorize key verses and sections.
- A working knowledge of basic beliefs of the Christian faith: the triune God, salvation, the deity of Jesus Christ, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the resurrection, what happens after death, etc.
- The ability to tell someone about Jesus and His free gift of salvation.
- A consist, fresh routine of prayer, Bible study/reading, worship, and fellowship in a local, Christ-centered church.
- Attend church, and worship God throughout the service.
- Be able to pray with someone who is going through a rough time and listen to their problems.
- Become skilled at working through personality conflicts and differences of opinion to maintain Christian friendships.
- Develop the self-confidence to pray in a group out loud.
- Be able to study a Bible passage for yourself and know what it says both theologically and devotionally.
God does not want you to remain spiritually stagnant, immature, and dependent. He wants you to grow to such a place in your relationship with Him that you can sustain your faith in a hostile or pressure-packed environment and during rough times. He will give you all you need to live the Christian life successfully and to serve Him with confidence.
Faith Lesson: Before you accept more God-given responsibility, you have to master the basics of the Christian life.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
