There's A Step Two

Becoming a Christian is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. That’s how I feel, anyways.  When that decision is made, there is usually lots of celebration. Rightly so, since it’s meaning and repercussions are lasting throughout this life and beyond.

It’s step one.

But I think there is a step two that a lot of people neglect. I often wonder about all of those people who become saved through mission trips, crusades, telethons, youth group, etc. What happens to them afterwards? What happens when the team putting on the event leaves? Is there anyone to follow up on their lives? Is their anyone to help walk them through the day-to-day growth of living a life as a Christian?

Yes, that is step two. Discipling.

Just as we train our children while we are raising them, so does a Christian need to be trained. Simply asking Jesus into their heart doesn’t give them the tools they need to live a vibrant life for Him. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t seem to “take” for so many.

I think we need to always be learning, always growing. It’s like school. You keep graduating and going on to the next grade. A Christian needs to keep graduating and moving on to the next lesson of growth and maturity.

You see, being a Christian is about more than simply salvation. It’s about LIVING for Him. Every day. Every moment.  We cannot simply “do the deed” and then stay in the same place, doing the same thing for the rest of our lives. God asks us and calls us to keep rising above the place where we were before. We cannot simply live in mediocrity.

So many people feel as if God is so far away. That He’s not present in their lives. But to truly feel God, you need to seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

God wants us to seek Him with everything we are! He wants us to be teachable so that we can learn more about Him. So that we can access all that He is and all that He wants to give us. He wants to mold us into who He sees. But we need to try. We need to seek.

To me, being a Christian means that I am constantly trying to be a better person. I’m always learning something and I’m discovering new things to be excited about. If I don’t try to grow, if I don’t feed my mind – it is too easy to get apathetic, cold, distant, and lukewarm about my faith.

Revelations 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

I don’t want God to spit me out of His mouth. I want to be vigilant and stand strongly for what I believe in.

It is so fabulous when someone accepts Jesus into his or her heart. It is worth every celebration and praise uttered on their behalf. But let’s not forget the “step two” of it all. For them and for us. Everyone needs to be discipled. To have a teacher and to be a student. We need to help one another learn, grow, and mature. If we don’t, the world will far too easily come in and sweep us off our feet for we won’t have grown the strong roots we need to keep holding us firm.

Let’s rise above mediocrity. Let’s keep pushing for that next level in faith. Together.

*First published at DevotionalChristian.com