“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Hopefully, this isn’t true for you! Nonetheless, Paul’s words are sufficiently sobering that it’s worth spending some time in personal examination. Paul sets the clear expectation that Christians should grow and mature rapidly in the faith, just as a healthy newborn baby rapidly grows, changes, and matures physically and mentally. Very clearly, however, not all Christians do.

Some Christians stay “stuck” as infants in Christ. They may attend church regularly and may talk about Jesus often, but their mindset is still that of an unbeliever. Yes, they believe in Jesus, but their lives don’t look much different than when they were an unbeliever. They still hold onto sins from before Jesus set them free. They’re still more concerned with earthly matters of health, wealth, status, comfort, amusement, or power than about spiritual growth, sharing the Gospel, and blessing and serving others. Their priorities, attitudes, and assumptions reflect those of their earthly country more than their heavenly kingdom. They might as well be atheists for all the difference God makes in how they work, play, spend, save, vote, and live.

Does any of that describe you? Are you maturing in Christ or have you gotten stuck? Do you truly have a mindset like that of Jesus or is it still pretty much the pre-installed mindset of your country, culture, or neighbors? Do you share Christ’s priorities for your community or someone else’s? Are you deep in the meat of God’s Word and will for the world or are you still eager to take a bottle? #FollowJesus

“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.” – 1 Corinthians 2:6

Where is your main source of wisdom? Is it a treasury of insights and colorful sayings spoken by your elders when you were growing up? Is it the latest trends and words of online influencers? Does it come from scholars or politicians? Philosophers or kings? Is your wisdom based on “common sense”, “hard knocks”, or “street smarts”? Where do you usually pull pithy phrases and wise insights from on a moment’s notice?

While there can be nuggets of truth and pearls of wisdom in many places, the greatest and most important wisdom doesn’t come from our culture or the elite of our age. It comes from God and His Word. It comes from thousands of years of Spirit-led experience living in a fallen world ruled by a perfect God. That is the wisdom that truly works. That is the wisdom every follower of Jesus should crave and share. Not just the clever sayings of our parents or grandparents but the perfect wisdom of our Creator.

So, carefully consider where most of your wisdom comes from. If it isn’t from the Lord, raise your sights! #FollowJesus

“But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

The Apostle Paul is very clear that the message of the gospel isn’t going to make sense to unbelievers whose hearts and minds are currently closed off toward God as He truly is. On the other hand, for those whose minds have been opened to the spiritual horror of their sin and rebellion against God, the Gospel makes perfect sense. Of course, only God could make a way for sinners like us to be reconciled to Him in His holiness. Of course, only God’s Son could live a perfect life and take our place on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins. It’s only by His death and resurrection that anyone can be raised to new eternal life as a gift of grace. The logic is clear and compelling for those prepared to hear it.

But not to those who don’t yet recognize their own sin or God’s holiness. Not to those still determined to save themselves through dead works and futile efforts at moral perfection. So, don’t be surprised when you share the love of God in Jesus and experience rejection. Those who mock you for your faith or are offended by it simply aren’t ready yet. That doesn’t mean you haven’t helped prepare them by giving them something to think about. That doesn’t mean you haven’t been successful or faithful in God’s eyes. Quite the opposite – God is pleased whenever you share Christ crucified, regardless of how people respond.

Remember and be encouraged by the truth Paul concludes with here. To those who are ready to hear, who’ve been wrestling with their own sinfulness and the futility of their efforts to save themselves by rule-following, rituals, and man-made religion, what you share will suddenly make perfect sense. Your words will resonate with power that doesn’t come from you but from God Himself. Then you’ll experience the incomparable joy of seeing someone raised to new spiritual life in Jesus Christ. #FollowJesus

“Let us test and examine our ways,
and return to the Lord!
Let us lift up our hearts and hands
to God in heaven”
– Lamentations 3:40-41

If Jesus is the Lord of your life, then you are well and truly saved from your sins. Your present and future in Christ is assured. Nonetheless, our human eyes, hearts, and minds can easily wander astray. Particularly in our fast-moving world with its overwhelming flood of, well, just about everything. Though we have been made new creation in Christ, we all still sin from time to time. Often, we’re blind to our sin. Regular reflection and Spirit-led self-examination to root out this sin in our lives is a very healthy spiritual practice.

In your quiet times, ask God to help you examine your ways. Ask Him to show where you may not be fully following Jesus. To reveals aspects of your life where you’re still following the world or yourself rather than your Lord. Areas where sinful actions or attitudes are routinely overlooked or excused. Areas where your obedience is less than genuine or heartfelt. Ask God to speak and then be quiet and let Him speak. Let Him prompt you toward neighbors you don’t love as yourself. To remind you of days and times when you’re unwilling to pick up your cross.

As God reveals these things, lift your heart and hands to God, confessing these sins. Don’t argue with God. Agree. Admit these things are sins. Commit to live differently, then ask God to forgive those sins and help you to live differently. Ask His Spirit to help you think differently, talk differently, and act differently. To become more like your Savior and #FollowJesus

“But as it is written,
‘Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.’”
– Romans 15:21

This is the burden of pioneer missions, the difficult work of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to people and places where there is nobody else telling them about Jesus. No churches, no Christians, no Bibles. This was Paul’s burden 2000 years ago and it must be the burden of the Christ’s people and churches today. All over this world, there are billions of people who have no idea that God loves them so much He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to die for them. All over the world, there are thousands of distinct ethnic groups longing to relate to their Creator without knowing the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The overwhelming majority of church money and effort does NOT go toward introducing those people and groups to the love of Jesus. The overwhelming majority of Christian mission efforts and resources does NOT go toward those people and groups. This is a tragedy of eternal and epic proportions!

It is God’s will that people from EVERY tribe, language, and ethnic group will come to worship Him through faith in Jesus Christ. It is Christ’s commission to His followers to make this happen. Those who’ve never yet been told about Jesus will one day see. Those who’ve never heard the good news will one day understand. It is the joy and privilege of Christians living in this time to be part of how God accomplishes this. If you aren’t already actively involved in God’s mission, it’s time to learn and pray about how you can do the good work God has prepared for you in pioneer missions. Is it by praying and caring for those who go? Is it by supporting and sending them? Is it by stirring up God’s people to get more involved? Is it by welcoming those who come here from distant lands? Is it by going yourself? #FollowJesus