Baby Steps
Psalms 37:5 says “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
My question this morning,
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them…They go from strength to strength” (Psalms 84:5-6).
Scripture denotes that in our walk with God, we go from victory to victory or glory to glory. In such a pattern, there must be a progression. I’ve heard it said that this pattern reveals that we will fight battle after battle, over which we will have repeated victory and learn more of God. This is indeed true as we have all seen in our lives.
But going from “strength to strength” reminds me of a child in his growth. At first a child learns to hold his head up. That is one of his first strengths. Then, he works to grasp at specific objects, then to tame the power of the tongue in language. This process of gaining one strength, then focusing on the next one, is why we do not expect a newborn to build a house his first day of life. There is a process, ordained by God, in the works.
It is important that we realize how often God likened our Christianity with that process of life. Often, the church is referred to in the female gender as the mother. Winning souls into the kingdom of heaven is likened to the church being in travail and giving birth:
Here again, we see that winning souls is a process of giving birth just as in the natural. Our growth, likewise, can be likened to the natural.
Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Often, we as mothers are quick to write the baby’s first step in his baby book and, indeed, it is a momentous occasion! However, if that child never takes a second step, he will never go anywhere. Likewise, we often stop with our first step, the completion of Acts 2:38 in our lives.
It is so important the we adhere to this principle found in Hebrews 6:1-3: “1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
Does that mean that the doctrine of Christ, salvation, faith, baptism, healing, the resurrection, and the eternal judgment are not important? Certainly not! What this means is that they are the basics…..the first step! After learning, believing, and then obeying each of these doctrines, there is a great work to be done in our spiritual growth!
Just like a physical baby, God enables us to go from strength to strength if we will just continue to put one step in front of the other. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). Note the two words, ‘power’ and ‘become.’ God gives us power or strength to become what he intends us to be.
Have you ever seen a child crawl?
You’ll notice that a baby cannot instantly run. In fact, he cannot even crawl right away. He will first learn to roll over or will rock himself back and forth until able to crawl. Then, he will reach and pull, strengthening his arm muscles until he can pull himself up to his full height, holding onto the coffee table.
Then, the muscles needed for his stability are strengthened until he can edge himself around the coffee table, falling numerous times until he makes it around! Finally, there are those first tentative steps without aid. Although he falls often, the yearning to be mobile causes him to pick himself up time and time again.
In preparation for our first step, we likewise must exercise some muscles: prayer, fasting, reading our Bible, and having faith! It is indeed a glorious day as we lift our hands in worship, receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance! Being baptized in Jesus’ name is the ultimate cleansing!
But, while these are phenomenal first steps, John 1:7 challenges us to “walk in the light” as we see the light. The Holy Ghost–God living inside you–is that light and, according to John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”
I’ve often seen new converts, having just received the Holy Ghost, forget the muscles they had to strengthen for that first step. We must realize, however, that those same muscles needed for the first step–prayer, fasting, Bible study, faith–are, likewise, necessary for the second, the third, and so on. What we are shown by the light is not a replacement of the first step, but rather a supplement of it!
This is why we “go on unto perfection” rather than forsaking the initial truths we’ve learned. We must keep in mind that one step, while it should never be forgotten, must also not be the only one!
Genesis 5:24 says that, “Enoch walked with God.” There was movement and growth. We find that he never had to face death because he “pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). Because he was sensitive to the spirit of God, obedient to his commandments, and progressed, he not only was translated but was given insight into the end time. In Judge 1:14, we find where he prophesied, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” What a tremendous honor, to be the confidant of God! We sing a song about being the friend of God but we must ‘walk’ or be progressing with him to be a friend at his side!
Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Note: It says ‘the steps,’ plural!
So, if we should be “walking in newness of life,” where exactly are we going?
Have you committed your way to the Lord?
Further, are you making enough progress that your life could be said to be following a path at all?
Scripture denotes that in our walk with God, we go from victory to victory or glory to glory. In such a pattern, there must be a progression. I’ve heard it said that this pattern reveals that we will fight battle after battle, over which we will have repeated victory and learn more of God. This is indeed true as we have all seen in our lives.
But going from “strength to strength” reminds me of a child in his growth. At first a child learns to hold his head up. That is one of his first strengths. Then, he works to grasp at specific objects, then to tame the power of the tongue in language. This process of gaining one strength, then focusing on the next one, is why we do not expect a newborn to build a house his first day of life. There is a process, ordained by God, in the works.
“Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a Man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Is. 66:7-8).
Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Often, we as mothers are quick to write the baby’s first step in his baby book and, indeed, it is a momentous occasion! However, if that child never takes a second step, he will never go anywhere. Likewise, we often stop with our first step, the completion of Acts 2:38 in our lives.
Does that mean that the doctrine of Christ, salvation, faith, baptism, healing, the resurrection, and the eternal judgment are not important? Certainly not! What this means is that they are the basics…..the first step! After learning, believing, and then obeying each of these doctrines, there is a great work to be done in our spiritual growth!
Just like a physical baby, God enables us to go from strength to strength if we will just continue to put one step in front of the other. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). Note the two words, ‘power’ and ‘become.’ God gives us power or strength to become what he intends us to be.
Have you ever seen a child crawl?
Then, the muscles needed for his stability are strengthened until he can edge himself around the coffee table, falling numerous times until he makes it around! Finally, there are those first tentative steps without aid. Although he falls often, the yearning to be mobile causes him to pick himself up time and time again.
In preparation for our first step, we likewise must exercise some muscles: prayer, fasting, reading our Bible, and having faith! It is indeed a glorious day as we lift our hands in worship, receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance! Being baptized in Jesus’ name is the ultimate cleansing!
But, while these are phenomenal first steps, John 1:7 challenges us to “walk in the light” as we see the light. The Holy Ghost–God living inside you–is that light and, according to John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.”
I’ve often seen new converts, having just received the Holy Ghost, forget the muscles they had to strengthen for that first step. We must realize, however, that those same muscles needed for the first step–prayer, fasting, Bible study, faith–are, likewise, necessary for the second, the third, and so on. What we are shown by the light is not a replacement of the first step, but rather a supplement of it!
This is why we “go on unto perfection” rather than forsaking the initial truths we’ve learned. We must keep in mind that one step, while it should never be forgotten, must also not be the only one!
Genesis 5:24 says that, “Enoch walked with God.” There was movement and growth. We find that he never had to face death because he “pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). Because he was sensitive to the spirit of God, obedient to his commandments, and progressed, he not only was translated but was given insight into the end time. In Judge 1:14, we find where he prophesied, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints.” What a tremendous honor, to be the confidant of God! We sing a song about being the friend of God but we must ‘walk’ or be progressing with him to be a friend at his side!
Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” Note: It says ‘the steps,’ plural!
So, if we should be “walking in newness of life,” where exactly are we going?
