Given July 23, 2011
When we hear this term we usually take it as a negative thing unless you’re talking about a 12 pound baby at birth. Now that’s a big baby! But as we get older, to be called a baby is a cut. What if we saw a mother carrying her 12 year old child into church? Ridiculous right? What if it was because she had carried him everywhere he needed to go because she didn’t want him to fall down? He never learned to walk! As we know, a baby must fall down some while learning to walk but they get back up and try it again. We fall down, we get up. We fall down, we get up, and we learn to walk. How does that compare with our Christian walk? “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
What if you went to visit a first grade classroom and there in the first row was a 40 year old man all scrunched up in that little desk? Ridiculous right? He had not progressed in school because he had not followed the teacher’s instructions, had not read his books, had not studied, nor done his assignments. He had not practiced anything he’d learned either. So there he sits in the classroom and the church pew, never progressing to the next level because he was content to just come and sit. What a shame. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” (2 Timothy 2:15).
These examples are extreme cases and would never happen in society but they do happen in the church. But it’s not too late! God, our Father, is right there beside us saying, “Come on now get up and try it again. I’ll help you.” Jesus, our teacher is saying, “Students, here’s your text book, (Bible), read it and follow my example.” “Do your homework and if you need any help, I’ve sent my assistant, (Holy Spirit) to guide you.” “Learn the material, put it into practice and you will be promoted.” Today, you are encouraged to step out and walk¸ trot, then run. You are encouraged to do the work and try for that promotion. That’s the plan of the Master and it makes Him happy.
