I LOVE JESUS
“A third time [Jesus] said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ Peter said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!’
He said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep.’”
John 21:17

I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately in order to meet my newly set challenge of miles. To keep myself occupied as the miles pass by, I find myself doing a variety of different things. Most mornings I pray, or at least keep in a prayerful attitude, listening for whatever God may prompt. But other mornings my mind wanders. For instance, one day I kept a mental tally of the different state license plates I found, with Florida coming in second only to Tennessee. Another morning I tried to name the different flower species seen. This morning, however, I found myself reading bumper stickers on the cars I passed by. It was in doing this that I noticed one reading simply, “I love Jesus.” Right away I thought, they must Christians. But as I took a few more steps away from the vehicle, I had another thought. Do they really love Him?
I know what you’re thinking; how dare I judge these people I do not know. You would be right to scold me. I do not know them from any other family, do not know their hearts or lifestyle, and do not know their personal beliefs. Again, you would be right. Except that, in thinking this thought the they refers to all of us. We can easily say, “I love Jesus,” but it can so easily become lip service or routine. The question is, do we really?
I am drawn to the story of Jesus questioning Peter. Before His death on the cross, Jesus foretold that the disciples would be dispersed. Peter spoke up and said he would never forsake Christ. The reply he heard was that before the rooster crowed to sound the morning, Peter indeed would recant knowing Christ. Now, with this foretelling a reality, Peter was being questioned by the resurrected Lord. “Peter, do you love me?” When reading this passage in the NIV, the phrase, “Do you love me?” is asked three times. But let us look at this passage in the Complete Jewish Bible. On the first instance, Yeshua asks, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter’s reply is, “Yes Lord, you know I’m Your friend.” On the second question, Yeshua asks, “Do you love me?” Again Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, You know I’m Your friend.” On the final questioning, Yeshua questions, “Are you my friend?” Peter, knowing Yeshua knows all, says again that He is Yeshua’s friend.
The bumper sticker reading “I love Jesus” may not be false, but it deserves a deeper look. Jesus questions us and our love for Him. Do you love Me more than these? Can we answer this with a yes, knowing that we are quick to put many things before Him? Hobbies, people, interests, education, the list can go on and on. Idols, that’s what they are, and that is what we are showing is more important. Do you love Me? So easily, without even thinking we say yes. But doesn’t He also say that loving Him involves obeying Him? Are you My friend? We sing that song in church that says “I am a friend of God…” but in honesty we treat our physical friends better than we treat Him.
The bumper sticker may indeed read, “I love Jesus,” but the question that follows the statement is do we really?

CLEAN
“Everyone who has tzara’at (infectious) sores is to wear torn clothes and unbound hair, cover his lip and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!”
Leviticus 13:45

I recently read that to those who grew up in the church as opposed to in the Jewish tradition, the book of Leviticus sounds almost like a different Bible altogether. I can honestly say this has been the case for me. Growing up Baptist in my early years, and then attending a Non-Denominational Church and college, it wasn’t until about three years ago that I embraced my roots. For me, trying to understand all the details of Leviticus has taken time, and it is still an ongoing discipline for me. With that said, I have been looking over the Torah portion this week in hopes of understanding just what Moses relayed to the people of Adonai.
In order for us to understand better this portion of the Torah, let us start by explaining that the Hebrew term TZARA’AT simply means a serious skin disease which causes one to be ritually unclean. Looking at Leviticus 13:18-46, we learn of different types of skin diseases that possibly would be found on Adonai’s people. It could be that their tzara’at was a result of a burn that never healed correctly, therefore now infected. It could also be a result of another infections issue altogether. Regardless, Adonai had set rules concerning these blemishes. The end result boils down to the priest examining the area and making a declaration of clean verses unclean. For example, if a tzara’at was in a place on the scalp or so, the priest would examine the loss of hair to determine if it was a natural occurrence or a result of the infection. The result of his finding would determine the end result of his declaration, clean or unclean.
It is in verse 42 that we are introduced to the term METSORA as it defines the person. Metsora was the name given to a person who was diagnosed with tzara’at. The true definition would be the title of one who is unclean or impure. In verse 45 we see the instruction for those who fall under metsora. First, the person’s clothing was to be torn, normally torn apart at the seam so as to be re-stitched should the person later be title clean again. More so a sign of mourning than of an unclean person, this simple tearing gave warning to others. The second step was the baring of the head. Again, the bare head in this case was not fully an outward sign of the skin disease, but rather of shame because of the disease. Bare here does not mean bald either, but rather that the man would forsake the typical Jewish head wear, as would the lady her scarf. The third instruction was that the diseased would cover his upper-lip with his hand whenever anyone approached. This, in addition to his own pronouncement of ‘unclean’, was the single indicator that others understood as related to the skin disease. Add these three instructions, as well as the removal of the infected to outside the camp, and having a skin disease wasn’t too fun.
Yet here is where the instruction relates to us today. This diseased person suffered on many occasions for a disease not even his own fault. He suffered excommunication from his family, people, tribe, and from any relationship with Adonai. Only when the priest deemed him clean again was he allowed back into the camp. But this diseased person is us. True, while we may not be suffering from a physical infection of the skin, we too have had the effects of sin mark us as unclean. Because of sin we have been excommunicated from Adonai. It is only because of Yeshua’s sacrifice that we have been made clean again and can re-enter the camp. Isaiah said it well when he spoke that our righteousness is as filthy rags. There is nothing we can do, no medication we can ingest, and no act we can perform to bring cleansing, just as there was none for the diseased. But because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, Adonai as our Priest comes to look us over once again and declares us clean. Oh my friend, how I pray that you have asked Him to be the Savior of your life, so that when you come to Him in your diseased state, He forgives you of your sin and once again calls you, “Clean!”

AN EXAMPLE YOURSELF
“Similarly, urge the young men to be self-controlled, and in everything set them an example yourself by doing what is good. When you are teaching, have integrity and be serious; let everything you say be so wholesome that an opponent will be put to shame because he will have nothing bad to say about us.”
Titus 2:6-8

It probably is no secret to any of you who have been reading my writings for a while or even have spent time talking with me that God has called me to be a minister. I am still waiting for His releasing, but I trust that He knows what He is doing. I tend to think that because of the calling He has placed on me, certain things need to be dealt with first. With that said, I felt a few weeks back that I was supposed to strongly study the letters Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus. Now I wish I could say that I had started in this sooner, being obedient right away to the instruction of God, but truth being told I did not jump. I actually have been putting it off. It wasn’t until doing a brief read of Titus this morning that I even touched this book I felt so strongly to touch three weeks back.
But maybe in touching it today, God wanted to make a point. It was while reading Titus 2 that it began to make sense to me. Paul starts out by explaining the good behaviors that coincide with sound teaching. He writes to Titus, “Tell the older men to be serious, sensible, self-controlled and sound in their trust, love and perseverance” (Titus 2:2). Other translations have the words sober, grave, temperate, and sound. Yet what is this referring to? Serious doesn’t mean in this case to be a buzz kill, solemn old man, but rather free from addictions. Sensible means to be reverend. Self-controlled, or temperate, is defined as curbing one’s desires or impulses. And finally, sound speaks of one whose opinions are free from error and stable in truth. Paul in this portion is describing the well rounded, God-fearing man we men and leaders should be. Still, he doesn’t stop there.
After addressing a few aspects pertaining to women in verses 3-5, Paul speaks again to men, and it is on this portion I want to land for the day. “Similarly, urge the young men to be self-controlled, and in everything set them an example yourself by doing what is good. When you are teaching, have integrity and be serious; let everything you say be so wholesome that an opponent will be put to shame because he will have nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8). Looking in sections, the first prompt given by Paul in this passage is to urge the young men. Notice the area of urge. Urge them to be self-controlled. Sound doctrine towards God includes the curbing of our desires and flesh. This is the first piece Paul notes in this second section. And why not? It is our desires that seem to get us in the most trouble. By not giving into the flesh and using self-control as our stance, we place ourselves in a position of devotion to God’s ways, and then can used as an example of one devoted to Him.
Paul then moves on to another characteristic that I believe it is safe to say we have forsaken. The example or leader is to have integrity. In the Greek the word for integrity is the word ADIAPHTHORIA, meaning un-corruptness. This term is only found in Titus 2:7. Being un-corrupt and respectful of the ways of God is needed in the church today. Sadly enough, we probably all can name too many leaders who have failed in this area. But it isn’t just within the church where this leadership quality is needed. We need a godly leader in our church, but also in our government offices, in our businesses, and leading our homes. And that is where the challenge lies for me.
Currently I do not have a church to lead, a business to manage, or a government to run. Yet I do have a family, and my family is dependent upon the fact that I do what Paul is writing. My children are looking to me as their father to be, “serious, sensible, self-controlled and sound in [my] trust, love and perseverance.” My children are watching me to verify if my words match my actions; if I will be a man of integrity or just another hoax. For them I want to be un-corrupted, and I want to be one that lives a life that no one can find fault in. I am far from it, but in reading this chapter I am desirous of it. There is only one way I can become this, and I am grateful I know the answer as to how. In calling on God, asking for His help, and being willing to make the changes that He directs me to make, I will find His grace to make the transformation. It isn’t enough for me to ask and not do, however. No change will ever come if I do not put His instruction into motion. But Titus 2:11-12 holds the hope. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Oh God, bring your grace, and bring the salvation with it that will deliver me, helping me to be the me that is in Your image.

DO THE WILL!
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
I John 2:17

In 1995, the Pepsi owned beverage of Mountain Dew sponsored the first X-Games. It was at that time that a new slogan for the drink was made public, simply stating, “Do the Dew!” Whether the slogan increased sales or not I cannot say. But I can admit to the fact that I still cannot pass a can, bottle, or picture of this yellow drink without thinking to myself that I need to do the Dew. It has nothing to do with the fact of whether I enjoy the beverage or not, but everything to do with the fact that the slogan has been permanently etched in my head. I, however, would like to propose that we have a new slogan etched in its place. Instead of doing the Dew, let us “Do the Will!”
In I John 2:15 we are reminded to not love the world or anything of the world. In loving the world and its things, we work to fill a void that can only be filled by God Himself. Yes, there are many created things that will catch our eye, yet we are not supposed to be lured and caught by the ‘things’ but rather be wooed by their creator. The scenery, the smells, the feelings are all created by God to gain our attention and draw us to Him and into a relationship with Him that will last. It is then for this reason John continues in verse 17 that the world and its desires will pass away. The one who falls in love with God and does His will, however, will live. Therefore, we must “Do the Will!”
I have shared this thought before, but want to bring it to light again. Isaiah 59:19 reads, “So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” I remind you to consider this. In the original Hebrew there were never commas used. What if instead of the enemy coming in like a flood the verse really reads, “When the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” This seems to make sense with what John is saying. Just like the enemy who has taken his stand to oppose us, so God has prepared a flood to wipe out the enemy. The one doing the will of God will be the one left standing after the flow of God’s flood sweeps through. This then encourages me once more to “Do the Will!”
As with each devotional I write, I can only encourage you. I cannot force you to make the changes I feel God urging me to make. But today I want to encourage you, almost to the point of twisting your arm, to truly consider the words John wrote in I John 2:15-17. Where does your love rest? Do you find yourself in love with the world and what it has to offer? Or do you find yourself in love with God and doing His will? Be careful how you answer this, because God knows the words you say in relation to the actions of your heart. If you are truly in love with God as opposed to the world, and doing His will above yours, then I salute you. You are Doing the Will. But if you find yourself more in love with the world and what it offers, I would encourage you to consider making a change. It is those who do His will that live forever. Maybe it is time to cut off your relationship with the world and “Do the Will!”

LAID LOW
“See how Adonai Elohim-Tzva'ot lops off the branches with terrible violence! The ones standing highest are chopped down, the lofty are laid low. He will hack down the forest underbrush with an axe, and the L'vanon in its splendor falls.”
Isaiah 10:33-34

Keeping in step still with the thoughts of this season which is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and with the deflating of chametz that the Lord is doing personally in my life, I want us to camp out for the day in Isaiah 10:33-34. I guarantee this is a passage that we are unaware of, and if we have read it we have more than likely read over its meaning. I know I have. But in studying the scripture this morning for verses that have to do with the removal of pride, humility of any kind, and dependence upon Adonai, I was drawn to this passage. I found myself beginning to wonder not necessarily if I am one of those standing high, but more so when will I be laid low.
Looking back at the verses prior we read of the remnant of Israel and their return to the Mighty God (Isa 10:21). As destruction has been decreed over the land, and would be carried out by the LORD, still a remnant would return. It is then in Isaiah 10:24 and following that the prophet spoke further the words of Adonai. In essence the prophet spoke, “Do not be afraid, for very soon the anger of Adonai will end against His people and be directed to the ones abusing His people.” The destruction would be lashed out and finally halted on Nob where the enemies had run for cover. It is here in Nob that they would shake their fists, but here also that Adonai Elohim-Tzva'ot, the LORD Almighty, would lop off the branches. While this seems mean of Adonai, it may only be because we do not understand the meaning of Nob. Nob was a priestly city within the area of the tribe of Benjamin, situated in the north near Jerusalem. Nob also is defined as a “high place”. It was in this high place that pride grew.
Adonai is not a fan of pride, as we saw a few days back when learning of chametz. It is in this season that our homes are to be void of this leavening agent physically and our lives spiritually. So then it makes sense to read this passage and self-inspect further, working again to make sure and verify that the chametz of our lives is gone. To the people who possessed pride, Adonai spoke that He would lop off their boughs with great power, chop down lofty trees, thin thickets with His axe, and reduce those standing in pride against Him. As He brought His destruction to Nob, so too can He bring His destruction against us who stand in pride before Him.
So again, I find myself beginning to wonder not necessarily if I am one of those standing high, but more so when will I be laid low. I do not want this destruction to fall upon me; I do not want to taken out because of the pride in me that raises itself against Adonai. That said, my prayer once again is, Adonai, have mercy on me and help me to remove this chametz. I want to be humbled, but I do not want to be taken out. I want to be void of the pride I know I have, but I do not want to be destroyed because of it. If I do not place myself in a position where I allow Him to humble me and remove the leaven, then the only other alternative is His bringing me down by force as He did Nob.
Adonai, have mercy on me and help me to remove this chametz.

HE WILL ACCOMPLISH
“’Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!’”
Exodus 14:14

I am standing before a huge mountain. Well let me rephrase that. I am standing before what seems to me is a huge mountain. Some of you who know me well may know what this mountain is. The truth of the matter is that I feel like the Israelites who, after leaving Egypt, were chased by Pharaoh’s army to the banks of the Red Sea. I now find myself with a force encroaching in the rear and a massive sea of an issue blocking my path. So what am I supposed to do? If I turn back I am defeated by the army. If I try to swim I will not make it all the way across. I lack additional choices. But I refuse to give up faith that deliverance will come.
When the Hebrews who lived this experience in the physical saw the army of Pharaoh coming after them, they began to fear. Fear can cause us to say and do some pretty stupid things. For the Israelites this was the case. Because of fear they blamed Moses (Ex 14:11). They questioned why he brought them out, why they couldn’t have just remained slaves, and why they should die here as opposed to in Egypt. But what they did not know is what we also fail to see in our moments of fear. Freedom was knocking on their door, and Adonai was about to fight for them. Adonai was their man of war, their ISYH MILCHAMAH (Ex 15:3), and He was about to prove Himself. It was following this that the word of the LORD came to Moses who then told the people the same words He is now telling me.
“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still’” (Ex 14:13-14). Without going into great depth at this time as to what I am facing, I feel in my spirit that God is telling me to stand firm in Him. Instead of running around in fear, I am being told to stand still. Instead of looking back behind me or out in front of me, I am being told to look to Him. This encroaching army that wants to have its revenge on me has to go first through God, but God is promising me deliverance. Just as Moses worked to calm the people’s fears by announcing that this would be the last day the Egyptians would ever be seen, so God is telling me the same concerning my foe. God once again is about to roll up His sleeves and do battle on my behalf. And this same truth is true for you in your hard place.
We read the remainder of Exodus 14 and we find that God parted the Red Sea for His chosen people. When Pharaoh’s army pursued Israel, the waters were released and swallowed the army up. Adonai’s word was true; the Egyptians were never seen again. Will He not do the same for us?
In closing I want to share with you another, maybe more exact translation of these verses found in Exodus 14:13-14. You know me; I love to look at the words in Hebrew and Greek when I study the Bible. This passage is no exception. I encourage you to look these words up for yourself, but here are the meanings from the Hebrew that I have found. “And Moses said unto the people, ‘Be afraid not, no more, but stand set in your station, and have vision for the victory and deliverance of Adonai, which He will accomplish for you in this period; for the inhabitants of Egypt whom you have had vision of in this period, you shall have vision of them in increase no more for a long duration of time. Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!’”

CHAMETZ AND GILGAL
“At that time the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.’ So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.”
Joshua 5:2-3

I thought for awhile on how to start today’s devotional, and honestly knowing what I want to say and trying to ease into it, I just couldn’t find an avenue. So allow me to be blunt and risk sounding scattered as I share with you what I know for a fact God is currently telling me. Currently we are in the days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the Jewish calendar. It is for seven days following Passover that many observers find themselves eating matzah as opposed to products containing wheat, oats, spelt, barley, and rye. These five grains are known also as chametz in Hebrew. The basic definition for chametz is any type of leavening product. For any who have cooked breads or cakes before, they will know that ingredients such as baking soda, baking powder, flour, or yeast all cause things to rise, therefore making them a form of chametz. In memory of the children of Israel leaving Egypt so quickly, we forsake for this timeframe the leaved items and eat the unleavened bread.
Move with me away from the Exodus out of Egypt and go to the entering of the Promise Land in Joshua 5. Already the people had crossed the Jordan and were about to attack Jericho. Yet before doing so, a command was given to Joshua while in Gilgal to circumcise the men again. Again? Yes again, because while traveling in the desert for forty years the older circumcised generation had died off and the new younger generation had not yet been circumcised. According to Jewish law, circumcision was the proof that the person was God’s. So in following the command given to him, Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the men of Israel, rolling away the reproach of Egypt.
Now with the background hopefully set, I want to share with you the challenge God placed in my lap while visiting family in Texas for Passover, and continues to challenge me with as I partake of the matzah this week. The chametz needs to be removed. The foreskin needs to be cut. Allow me to explain. Physical chametz is the five grains listed above. However, even though I have removed these grains from my home during this time, I also need to remove them from my life. I think of self-rising flour. It is self-rising. This chametz is easy to see. But what about the self-rising chametz in my life? Pride, selfishness, arrogance, these are the chametz in my life that also need to be removed. Yet it is the same as the foreskins. There are health issues that are related to not being circumcised, which may be one reason why God required this of His people. So then there are spiritual health issues related to me not being circumcised. The sins of pride, selfishness, arrogance, and so many other spiritual ‘diseases’ is a real thing.
God is not asking us to refrain from chametz, nor is He asking us to be circumcised. He is commanding us. He is commanding His people to remove the pride of life, to remove the selfish attitude of ‘me’, and to remove the arrogant manner we so easily slip into when concerned only with ourselves. We need to leave the reproach of Egypt behind. We need to stop serving the idols of ‘us’ and find ourselves embracing the humility that in essence is found in the chametz. We need to cut away the foreskin which holds the disease of sin, and allow ourselves to be cleansed.
Oh God, I pray that you would take me to Gilgal, circumcise my heart, and reduce my pride until it no longer exists.

FINDING TIME TO PRAY
“Pray continually.”
I Thessalonians 5:17

I want to start by asking you a question, and you need to answer honestly. Do not, however, answer honestly for my sake because I will never know your answer anyway, but rather answer honestly for your sake. Do you find yourself praying always, or do you find yourself praying only when you are in trouble? I Thessalonians 5:17 is a two word command, stating, “pray continually.” That’s it; that’s the whole verse. Yet how many of us do what this verse so simply and boldly states? I’ll be honest, I don’t. In fact, as I was praying about what to write today it dawned on me that many times I come to God in prayer only when I need His help. When the car is making a funky noise, I pray. When the bills are due and the money is low, I pray. When someone is physically hurt, I pray. I desire to be like Daniel and pray regardless of the situation, but I find myself more like Jonah praying for help only because I am in a situation.
In the book of Jonah, the story starts out with the prophet receiving a word from God to go to Nineveh and preach against the wickedness of the city. Instead of obeying, Jonah runs the other way and heads toward Tarshish. When a mighty storm comes about, all the men on the sea vessel with Jonah begin to panic and pray to their gods. However, Jonah knows this trouble is because of him and orders the men to throw him overboard. As soon as Jonah is cast over, the sea grows calm (Jonah 1:15) and a great fish swallows Jonah whole (Jonah 1:17). It is here, inside the big fish where he stayed for three days and nights that Jonah prays. It is here where I find myself praying more times than I wish were true also. When circumstance has swallowed me whole and I am sitting in the gunk and disgust of the fish’s bowels, it is then that I realize, hmmm, maybe I should pray.
Why does it take so long to get to this point? I compare this example of prayer to that found in Daniel 6:5-10. The men of the king’s court longed to be rid of Daniel but could find no just cause. He was upstanding, trustworthy, and void of corruption. It was because of his attributes then that they made a law against prayer. They must have spied on Daniel in the past to know his ways and customs, to know that he prayed three times daily looking out toward Jerusalem, and to know he kept his window open. So when the decree was signed by the king, and Daniel went about his normal practice of prayer, they were waiting to take him before the king for his violation of the new law. Yet still the question I ask is why does it take me so long to get to this point? My heart and spirit long to be so connected with prayer that it becomes something I do no matter the circumstance. Like Daniel, I long for prayer to be a normal thing.
I don’t want to pray only when things are slumping, but also when things are going well, average, and even awesome. I want to stop being like Jonah and start being like Paul ordered, praying always. This word ‘always’ is the Greek word ADIALEIPTOS. It means always or without intermission. Having children I find that when I take them to the movies, at some point one of them will lean over and say, “I have to go potty.” Luckily they are old enough to find their way and go alone now, but a few years back I had to go with them still. There was nothing worse than going to a movie only to miss the action scene or turning point because I was waiting outside the bathroom. This intermission ruined the movie for me. And yet, when I pray only in trouble or distress, I am literally doing the same thing. I am breaking up the additional pieces that I could be gaining from by ceasing. Honestly, I grow weary of only watching a portion of the movie, or only gaining enough direction and guidance from God to get to the next step. It is time I buckle in my seat and pray, regardless of the circumstance, and allow God to speak to me and move me as He sees fit. Who knows, by praying continually I may even dodge a few of those issues that may cause me to pray in panic later.


*I do realize that I have shared this thought before, but as I was looking over some of my past entries, I found myself again in this same place and encouraged by what I had previously wrote. Perhaps you too may be encouraged or re-encouraged once more.

GROWING PAINS
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, argued like a child; now that I have become a man, I have finished with childish ways.”
I Corinthians 13:11

I have always been a long time fan of the show, Growing Pains. Spanning from 1985 to 1992, I watched as Mike Seaver continued to get himself into trouble, as Carol Seaver continued to get good grades, as Ben Seaver grew into a teen of style, and as Chrissy Seaver just plain grew up. The lessons within the shows and many of the episodes I can still remember, without have to re-watch them as re-runs. But what makes the show so easy to remember? It wasn’t the goofy antics of Kirk Cameron’s character, or the fact that I found Tracey Gold to be attractive in my teen years, (even if she was slightly older than me). It was the fact that I could relate. I too was growing just as these television children were growing. I was experiencing what they were and was dealing with many the same feelings. I was growing up and having pains all my own.
Recently as I was reading a book about spirits that tend to purposefully hinder believers, I stumbled upon a section catching my attention. Allow me to share with you a portion of what I read.

“The believer also experiences growing pains. After salvation, some need deliverance from
tempers, from unclean habits, from emotional ties with past friends. Deep inside they feel
a dull thud, a slight pain as their flesh begins to war against their spirit. Those of us who
have been converted since childhood often forget what it feels like to go ‘cold turkey,’
separating from the world, the flesh, and the devil.”

As I think back to my time of conversion at age five, I can agree with the end portion of this statement. I just remember growing up in the church, having friends of like faith, and working hard to memorize scripture. It is when I think back to the last ten years of my life that I see the difference. In spending more time with God recently and allowing Him to point out areas where I have slipped, I see the unclean habits, the tempers, the pains, and the ties that need breaking. So why do I see it now?
The answer to this question I believe is found in I Corinthians 13:11. As I have allowed God to work to mature me, I have been convicted of my childish behaviors and have begun to put the childish things away. Now to clarify, this does not mean that playing with Legos or collecting baseball cards, or the things I used to do as a child are wrong to do now. This scripture is referring to the growing we do in the Spirit. Looking back over my time since childhood to now, I can see landmark moments when spiritual leaps were made. These were the growing pains. Coming out of an addiction, being teased about my walk with God as a child, making a decision to attend a private college, having to work on my anger issues, these were all steps that I had to go through, and with God’s help overcome. These were just a few of my growing pains. But these were what has defined me and made me into the man I am now. If I had not grown up in these experiences, spiritually I would still be a child.
I want to leave you with something to think about. I want you to contemplate where you are in your spiritual growth. For the moment I am not just talking about whether or not you read your Bible and such. I am more concerned with if you are letting the Bible, or more so God’s voice, work in you. Are you allowing His Word to change you? Unless we let the Word get in us and change us, then all we are doing is reading a best-selling book of stories. In letting His Word get in deep, penetrate the heart and aid in through the pains of growth, then we will still be suffering the same issues that He is wanting to help us to overcome. Maybe it is time we allow His Word to give us a spiritual growth spurt, and not run from the challenges He is wanting to help us overcome.