Friday, March 16, 2012

Enjoy the Growth!

Did you know the Apostle Paul's ministry and calling was not just to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles, but also to help raise every believer up into the full knowledge of who they are IN Christ, thus bringing everyone into their full maturity as a Christian? Many times we think spreading the Word of Jesus is all about getting people saved, but based on Paul's teachings, there is whole bunch more.

We looked at the first chapter of Colossians where Paul exalted the believers at Colossae for their faith, unity, and love, and yet he wanted them to experience something more--the fullness of knowing their Savior, Jesus, and the deep, rich treasures of God that have been stored up for the church. This obviously takes time and patience as the maturation process completes its task. Like a rose bud coming into its full bloom, we as Christians must grow and mature in our discovery of who we truly are in Christ and how God sees us. It isn't about doing deeds or completing tasks, but about coming into the full knowledge of the Truth.

We compared this teaching with Ruth's story. When Boaz first saw her, he wanted to know who she was. He called her "daughter," and I believe that for him, it was love at first sight! He took care of her, provided for her and protected her, and invited her to eat at his table to dine on the kingly bread. Instead, she chose to sit with the other maidens and eat of the parched grain. For the remainder of the barley and wheat harvest, Ruth stayed at Boaz's field, gleaning with the other workers, drinking the water drawn by his young men, eating at his table, learning more about him, and most importantly, learning about HOW HE SAW HER! This sounds like a romantic, wooing courtship to me. At the appropriate time, when the harvest was complete, she was ready to claim him as her husband and take her position as his wife. Boaz called her virtuous and declared that the whole city knew of her virtue. Obviously, she had grown into the knowledge of who she truly was. Likewise, this is what the Lord wants from us.

At no time during this wooing process did Boaz scold or admonish Ruth for not walking in a full revelation of how he saw her. He waited quietly and patiently, enjoying the time spent with her, watching with joy as she grew into her revelation that she was meant to be his wife. Think about that! God delights in watching you grow and develop and learn about who He has made you IN Christ. The more light you walk in and the more revelation knowledge you have of the rich treasures in Christ Jesus that have been laid up for you NOW, in this age, the more He is glorified!