Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Today, I will write on the subject I had in mind yesterday before I was led in a different direction. Pastor Ruben preached an excellent message this past Sunday about folks who are looking for things they already have. A few years ago, we were stopped at a traffic light on San Pedro Avenue travelling north. A car pulled up next to us and a man inside rolled down his window and asked: “How can I get on 281 heading North?” I replied “You’re on it already; just keep on going.” That particular stretch is one, like many others in San Antonio, that is known by dual names. In this case, it starts out as San Pedro and if you continue travelling north, it becomes 281. Remembering my post office days, I know for a fact that for a couple of miles on that road some businesses there use the San Pedro address and others US 281 North. The point is this driver was looking for a road he was already on.
When Christ came first into my life many years ago, I was so excited at the thought, that I dragged my wife and children to as many church services and functions as I could find with the hope that I would gain more spiritual knowledge and acquire more of God’s spiritual gifts. I heard one preacher emphasize Paul’s advice in I Corinthians 14:1 to desire spiritual gifts and I wanted to ensure that I did not miss out on any of them. In time, I learned that I did not have to go from one church to another in order to find spiritual gifts but more importantly, I eventually learned that, in Christ, I was already complete. Apparently, the Colossians in Paul’s time were being told by some false teachers that they also were lacking knowledge. That is why he reminded them: “In Him (Christ) rests all the fullness of God, and you are complete in Him.” (Col. 2:9-10) I remember the times in my early stages in Christ when other “mature” Christians implied that I was lacking God’s spiritual gifts, and I believed them. I was like the poor simplistic fellow who proudly remarked: “All my friends say I’m gullible, and I believe them.”
This is not to imply that we should be content as we are and not seek to draw closer to Christ in our daily walk. In fact, Paul, in his same letter to the Colossians advised them to continue their walk in Him and to be rooted and established in Him. (Col. 2:6-7) As far as being incomplete and lacking gifts or knowledge, however, there are no second class citizens in Christ. To know this is important because, too often, many Christians have been led to believe that they are inferior to others, and as a result live defeated and discouraged lives. Don’t let that happen to you. The truth is that it is Satan who is really behind all these foolish beliefs and ideas. God loves all his children the same and not one of them is less loved or less important to Him. Hold you head up high and never forget this truth. You’re on the right road, just stay on it.
Memory verse for the week: (Psalm 9:9) The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
