We are a generation who become enamored with the extremes of life. We indulge in every area of life possible and believe this does not affect our souls. However, when we look at the situation at hand, I hope you will see the excesses of this life profoundly impact us. Let me give a couple of examples to bring this to the forefront of your mind.
First, we have things such as social media. This allows us to interact socially, receive morsels of information about others, and argue freely without investing in a personal conversation. Second, we have video games. These allow us to live in a fantasy world and get rushes of dopamine without having to leave the house or go and do hard work in the real world. We can build a fake identity in fantasy land. While I could list a handful more things here, I will leave this as is. We are used to being able to get our spike of the “feel goods” without having to do much.
How does this affect the Christian life? I’m glad you asked! What happens is we approach our walk with Christ similarly to how a Hallmark movie depicts love, romance, and marriage. Have you ever noticed that none of those movies are dedicated to the never-ending chores required of both husband and wife and how there is seemingly always a pile of laundry or a trash bag to take out in real life? They seemingly skip over all of the ordinary aspects of life and highlight the extraordinary. Why? Because the purpose of the movie is to entertain. Do you know what is not entertaining? Washing dishes…
So, we have trained our brains to live in the extraordinary, and when life fails us, we escape to entertainment to get our dopamine fix from the created extraordinary. Sidebar: I am not anti-entertainment. I am simply attempting to reveal how it has changed our lifestyle and thinking patterns and how it impacts Christian life.
Similarly, when we look at the Christian life, here are the basic tenets of the faith we are told to expect on a regular basis.
Spiritual growth is degree by degree (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18). This means there is nothing awe-striking about our spiritual growth in the near future. Similarly to a weight-loss journey, the true transformation is shown over the months and years. Our day-to-day growth is unseen and can feel inconsequential at times.
Spiritual growth does not come through physically extravagant means. Not only is our growth degree by degree, but the means through which we grow are not engaging to the human eye and have little appeal to the world's aesthetic.
Spiritual growth comes from the ordinary means of grace. These are God’s Word, Prayer, the Sacraments, and, in necessary conjunction with these things, Church Discipline.
Jesus showed us a picture of how He does supernatural work in our lives through the everyday, ordinary means of grace.
26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once, he puts in the sickle because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:26–29
God simply requires that we be faithful in the everyday work of planting seeds. He will be the one to grow it because then He is the One who receives the glory. When we look at Scripture, here are the necessary components for our growth.
God explicitly instructs ministers and churches to do the following things:
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching
1 Timothy 4:13
2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19–20
24 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:24
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
1 Timothy 2:1
15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15–17
While it makes sense that you and I struggle with the ordinary means of grace from time to time, it is essential we see the blessings in them and thank God that He is in control of all these things. We are simply to be faithful with what He has given us and trust Him with the growth, both personally and corporately.
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7
When you are tempted to despair at the mundane aspects of life, the repetitive nature of the Christian life, or anything between those two, remind yourself that God is working His perfect plan in and through these things. It is for your good and God’s God's! Not every sundae needs sprinkles, and Christian life does not always require mountain-top experiences.
May God bless your week as you seek His kingdom first!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Dan
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