Today I begin a series I like to call “Thoughtful Thursdays”… and, as per usual, I am a day late. So for the first installment, we’ll call it “I thought it was Thursday” or “Forgetful Friday”... the choice is yours.
These “Thoughtful Thursdays” are not designed to impart pearls of wisdom, solve the world’s problems, or serve as a platform for any particular position. Instead, I hope these open-ended prompts push you to think… and read… and pray, and perhaps even come to your own conclusion or resolution. Why do you believe what you believe? Better yet, what do you believe? Is it consistent with God’s Word? Do you live it out? I think if we are honest, the sad truth is that all too often our answer to all of these questions is “I don’t know.” I urge you to know. Someday we may all find out we were wrong about at least a thing or two, but let’s be thoughtful, intentional, prayerful people who can say, “I know…” “Here’s why…” and “I try…” So that, in the words of Paul, “your faith may not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” ~ 1Cor.2:5
Thoughtful Thursday: Baby steps…
Sissy is trying to learn to walk. She is very capable of getting where she wants to go using all four of her limbs, yet she wants so badly to walk. If she holds onto something, she can do it, but if she let’s go, she falls. Sometimes she knows she’s off-balance and gently sits down. Other times, she is moving so fast that she comes crashing down… usually head-first. She can’t catch herself, and I usually cannot get there quickly enough to catch her either. I hate watching her fall, but I love watching her learn… I always seem to learn something in the process too.
We first learn to stand by pulling up on something steady… something that doesn’t move. As we get stronger, we try to get to our feet on our own. Sissy is quite amusing at this right now. She will sit on her knees, put her right foot out to the side and bounce. You can totally tell what she’s trying to do… she’s working up her momentum… building her muscles… working on her balance… training herself to stand. She’s practicing a very important and basic skill that’s required BEFORE she can walk: first, she has to learn how to stand alone. Someday very soon she will master this standing-up thing, she will let go of the couch, she won’t need to hold onto my fingers, and she will toddle away. Her steps may be shaky… her balance uncertain… but she will practice… she will improve… she will walk… and someday run.
How is this like our faith? Are we…
Still crawling?
Holding on?
Letting go?
Practicing?
Getting stronger?
Learning to balance?
Walking, with shaky steps?
Sure-footed?
Ready to run?
Think on it… and Read on… 1 Corinthians 2; 3:1-2,10-13
(and if you’re feeling really inspired… blog on too!)
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