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How interested are you in the things of GOD? What kind of Christian are you? I'm not talking about denomination, tags, and labels of man. Let's talk about basic descriptions. Are you a baby Christian, a toddler Christian, a juvenile Christian, an adult Christian, or a mature Christian? I'm not talking about your age - rather your STRENGTH, MATURITY, AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

This is a very important question that we all need to think about. I have been thinking about it alot.

My relationship and strength are weak. I am most definitely a toddler Christian.
Whenever I read Bible or studies, I don't remember what I read or not interested.

There, that is another problem. Not interested in God's words?! What is wrong with me?

I always forget to pray and when I do, I can't stay focused.

Hello David. This is an excellent subject and I'm happy that you brought it up.

I don't think that there is anyone alive today that is a fully mature Christian. Yes, there may be some that are more mature than others but even they are not fully mature and won't be until they are with Christ. We all are continually learning, we are all an unfinished work of Christ until He comes and takes us home. We all struggle in the flesh to one extent or another. I am also sure that we all find ourselves distracted from God and His word to one extent or another at various times and find ourselves having difficulty at one point or another in finding it "interesting."

If we had to rely on our own strength we would never make it. Praise God for His mercies and for His strength.

This is not to say that it is alright to continue in this manner. We do need to continue to strive toward a better relationship with and knowledge in Christ. Developing good habits (prayer/study) is essential for good spiritual health.

I think you and brother tom are very mature Christians. You're very strong and know everything.

Thank you for the confidence and I'm sure that Brother Tom appreciates that also. I can assure you though that even if we may know a lot that we don't know everything. There is no one alive on earth that knows everything.  ;) 

Hi David, I think I am, an adult Christian. I know I have more to grow, in Christ before I become a mature Christian.

My own feeling is Brother Roger, and brother Tom are mature Christians. But as with each of us, we all have room to grow in Christ.

Hello Brother David,

I'm behind in everything because my wife and I have both been ill. I'm still ill but I'm feeling some better.

I want to share something with you that I consider to be the absolute truth. As Christians, JESUS CHRIST is our role model, and we should already know that HE'S PERFECT, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, AND WITHOUT A BLEMISH OF ANY KIND. As we grow and mature in CHRIST, we actually begin recognizing more and more of our faults. Brother David, you're talking like you're GROWING.

As we grow, the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD living in us GUIDES us more and more, and HE convicts us when we do wrong or should be doing better in something. Again, you are talking like you're GROWING. If we enjoyed wallowing in sin and wrong-doing, the HOLY SPIRIT would not be as interested in GUIDING AND CONVICTING US. What I'm trying to say is feeling bad about sin and wrong-doing is part of GROWING. Our CONSCIENCE is becoming more and more sensitive to what GOD considers RIGHT and PLEASING in HIS eyes because of many things:  1)  THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD is working in us;  2)  We think about what GOD wants and what makes GOD happy;  3)  We read GOD'S WORD and become more convicted - realizing how far short we are. It's natural for a man NOT TO ENJOY being told or becoming aware of a long list of faults and short-comings - but this is a part of growing.

Brother David, you mentioned reading GOD'S WORD, and I want to share a truth with you. There are many reasons why GOD'S WORD declares it is "SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD". It CUTS everyone who picks it up, because GOD'S WORD convicts the reader of faults, wrong-doing, short-comings, and SIN. It hurts when GOD'S WORD tells us all of these bad things about ourselves - but this is part of GROWING! All of these things lead to why JESUS CHRIST IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR AND WHY WE NEED HIM! YES - we should have a desire to be more like JESUS CHRIST, but we have a hard time with every step of progress. We can't be perfect or holy, BUT OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR IS! We can't be RIGHTEOUS, but our LORD AND SAVIOUR IS!

Brother David, I hope that you understand the main thing I want to tell you. We need to get beyond the hurt of GOD'S WORD telling us all of the things wrong with us. Try to think of GOD as your loving Heavenly Father, your best friend, and the only one you can have 100% confidence in. Think about knowing what's wrong with you as a good thing - KNOWING that you depend on the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST - not your own. Read GOD'S WORD, STUDY GOD'S WORD, and know what pleases GOD. Try to please GOD by yielding to HIM, letting HIM guide you, letting HIM comfort you, and letting HIM have a closer relationship with you than you would ever consider with a human being in this world. HE won't lie to you, and the TRUTH sometimes hurts - but you already belong to JESUS CHRIST! You must always remember that you belong to JESUS CHRIST, and there is NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in CHRIST.

Brother David, you have been BORN AGAIN from above. It's completely right and natural for you to feel bad when you do wrong or sin. Lost people enjoy sin, but you don't. This is GOD working in you - something for you to give thanks for. You have a relationship with GOD now. When you study GOD'S WORD, you learn MUCH MORE than just what's wrong with you. The most beautiful TRUTH is learning about GOD'S PLANS FOR YOU AND HIS PROMISES TO YOU. With all of these things in mind, STUDY HIS WORD! YES - it cuts - BUT you will get beyond the cuts and start learning about the RICHES OF CHRIST that you will share with CHRIST HIMSELF for Eternity. The "CUTS" will become less important - INSTEAD, you will start thinking about your HEAVENLY FATHER - YOUR BEST FRIEND - loving and guiding you.

Brother David, I've been long-winded again, but please let me finish by sharing some beautiful Scripture. Brother, I think you are growing stronger in CHRIST by the hour. GOD is working in your life, so just THANK HIM! Brother David, I just know enough to know that there's a huge list of things WRONG with me, and I need JESUS CHRIST as my LORD AND SAVIOUR!


Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 8:1-11 NLT  So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  2  For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.  3  The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  4  He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.  5  Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  6  If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.  7  For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.  8  That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.  9  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)  10  Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God.  11  The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you.


Romans 10:3-11 NLT  For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Instead, they are clinging to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. They won't go along with God's way.  4  For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.  5  For Moses wrote that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands.  6  But the way of getting right with God through faith says, "You don't need to go to heaven" (to find Christ and bring him down to help you).  7  And it says, "You don't need to go to the place of the dead" (to bring Christ back to life again).  8  Salvation that comes from trusting Christ-which is the message we preach-is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart."  9  For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  11  As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed."