"Christ's first coming was to fulfill a mission, a purpose. He came to suffer, die, and be raised again. These happened and yielded results effective for the present time and into eternity." (Roger Anderson)



Neglect is a form of abuse. The spiritual life is like a beautiful lawn that needs constant attention. Failing to consistently spend quality time nurturing a relationship with God is the same as failing to cultivate a yard, eventually weeds and bugs will consume and destroy it. Paul, a seasoned minister in the faith instructed Titus whom he was mentoring , “These things I want you to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should maintain good works … avoid foolish disputes … and reject a divisive person after the first and second warning.”(Titus 3:8-10) We are to continually devote ourselves to doing what is good, and be constantly reminded of that fact. When you are doing the right thing in the right place at the right time, right things happen.



Many people struggle in their spiritual lives because they entertain themselves with things which are bad for their spiritual well being. They put unhealthy things into their minds and then try to fight the thoughts that arise in their hearts. The children of Israel became entangled with this issue. Ezekiel 14:7-8 says, “Anyone … who separates himself from Me [God] and … puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity … I will set My face against that person.” God cannot look on sin.(Habakkuk 1:13) Don’t be guilty of emulating the behavior of the foolish Jews who did not make a priority of their faith in God; instead they focused on things which produced wrongdoing in their lives. Don’t fuel the dark side of your weak nature. We have a call to do good, as often as we have the power and the occasion (William Penn). 2 Timothy 2:22 says, Flee youthful lusts.” We are susceptible to many things so resist and run from anything that has the potential of enticing you towards wrong behavior. Psalms 101:3 says, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.” Watch what you watch in movies and on your computer screens. Spiritual growth does not just happen; we must work at it by narrowing our interests to the will of God and learning to be led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; Matthew 7:13-14). We grow spiritually through fellowship with God and spending quality time getting to know Him.



Nurture your spiritual well being. Frank Lauback said, “Fellowship with God is something one dare not cover, for it smothers to death. It is like a tender infant or a delicate little plant, for long nurturing is the price of having it, while it vanishes in a second of time, the very moment indeed, one’s eyes ceases to be “single” [devoted or focused]. Do not feed the passions of your heart with that which you will one day have to fight. "Every man's life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with", ... (Marcus Aelius Aurelius)


 
Keeping up with the Jones'