Going Deeper: Steps to Mature in Faith
It’s really easy to stay stagnant, right? It’s much easier to not change and just continue in routines the way we’ve always done them—but if we’re wanting to arrive at a specific location (in this case, to the arms of Jesus), then we have to do this intentionally. No one makes it to their destination while at sea just by drifting there.
It takes intentionality to grow in our faith, to be able to weather the storm without losing hope. It takes our intentional knowing and believing that we aren’t living this life just for this life. It takes intentional life to be able to live in joy even when difficulties arise. Let’s start here:
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Devoted to the Word
First we’re going to point out that these people (the early church), were “continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” (Acts 2:42) This teaching was the Gospel. We have this in written word through the Bible.
They weren’t just checking it out as they had time, when they felt like they might understand it, when it was a special occasion, or because someone else was… They were personally devoted. The gospel was their life. Are we devoted? Are we unwavering in our desire to be in God’s Word? Do we believe that His Word is true? Do we believe that it’s necessary and powerful in our lives?
Have you ever read the book of John? When you do, the first verse is mind blowing…this is what it says:
In the beginning the Word already existed.The Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1, NLT)
Did you catch that? "…the Word was God.”
I cannot claim Christianity and avoid the Word. I can’t say I have no other gods before my God if I’m not consistently in His Word and spending time with Him. I can’t be growing in an intimate relationship with my Savior if I’m only catching up with Him once a week for an hour or so, or only reading what others have to say about Him… that’s not an intimate relationship, that’s a lazy acquaintanceship.
If we want to grow—if we want to call ourselves Christians and really take on the devoted commitment He calls us to (Matthew 16:24-25) then we have to be committed to who God is. John tells us that the Word is God. But we can’t do it alone.
Intentionally Intrusive
We must be intentionally intrusive in the lives of our fellow Believers. We aren’t called to solidarity. We aren’t called to live alone.
The internet is a fabulous tool. But it’s just that, a tool. It isn’t meant to replace what we are called to be, and that is community. A mentor of mine likes to remind us that we are “not physical beings living in a virtual world, we are spiritual beings called to live purposefully in the physical world.”
The early church was all up in each others’ business. If you read through the New Testament, over and over you read the calling to “encourage” one another and not to give up meeting together. And for us as Christians, it also tells us to call one another out. So yes, Jesus wants us to call out other Christians and get in their business. Why? Because the enemy is crafty. His native language is lies and if you let your guard down for a second, if you start listening to the word more than His Word, he is there ready to pounce. He is there ready to tell you that it’s “ok this once”, to listen to your heart, not to let anyone else tell you what to do because it’s your life and you deserve _______.
And guess what? If we’re not devoted to the Word and if we’re not devoted to being in intimate communion with other Believers—we’re just off by ourselves getting led down that wide path of sin, pleasure, lust, selfishness, pride, addiction, anger, annoyance, confusion, and the idea that “no one gets to tell me what to do.”
Well, it turns out if you’re a Christian, then yes, we do get to “tell you what to do” (though not that harsh, of course.) I loved this explanation from Desiring God:
“When we sin, our Christian brothers and sisters have an obligation to judge us. They must not condemn us, but they must, out of love, call us to repent. Such judgment is a grace, an expression of God’s kindness (Romans 2:4), and we only compound our sin if we take offense.” (Jon Bloom)
If we aren’t intentional in our friends’ lives, how can we offer that grace of adjusting their compass? If we aren’t letting people be intentional in our lives, how can anyone offer us that grace when we get sidetracked? We’re all going to sin—that’s not in question. The question is, when it happens and we’ve become blind to our own sin, who is going to be there to gently and lovingly point us back to the narrow path of Christ? It sure isn’t going to be the enemy.
We need other believers and not just to sit next to, shoulder to shoulder, listening to someone else talk about God. No, we need to know them, not just the outward struggles of their lives but the tiny places the enemy sneaks into to plant lies, doubt, and frustration. Those are the places we need to be intrusive about and to love through.
God himself is community. He is 3 in 1. We can’t avoid being in community. We can’t avoid being in His church. And we can’t avoid being intentionally intrusive in others’ lives while allowing them to do the same for us.
But now what…?
I have action steps we can do to help move us deeper.
If you’re needing help getting started in the Word, or if you’re needing a way to go deeper, check out our Women re(Purposed) downloadable guide. If you’re a newer believer and needing to know how to get intentionally intrusive with other Christians, here are some steps for you to take:
Find a mentor.This is someone in your local church who you see growing in her faith and serving in the church. She might be a life stage or two (or more) ahead of you. Read the Bible together, pray together, and just share those areas in your life that you want to give over to Christ but are struggling with. Share the areas that you feel the enemy tugging at. Let her speak life, Truth, and wisdom over your life. It doesn’t have to start off super intrusive, but it does have to start to get intentionally intrusive.
Find someone younger than you to mentor. You don’t have to teach her anything, but you can share that wisdom you’ve gained from going through life thus far. You’ve seen God at work in your life, you can read the Bible together, and you can pray together. Again, it has to start before it can get deeper.
Serve in your church. The Church wasn’t intended to be your filling station. It’s not a place for you to go to sit back and listen, get your order taken, and then decide if it was “good” or not. You are to be active in your church.Church isn’t about what you get out of it, it’s about serving,worshipping our Lord, and loving the lost. And you don’t have to teach or lead anything to be serving, find a way and do it consistently, not just once or twice a year.
Another note on this one, if you’re serving a lot and feeling “burnt out” it’s because you’re trying to pour from an empty cup; be devoted to filling your cup up everyday. Your burn out is not a result of your serving… it’s a result of a flame not being properly “fanned.”
If you are a more mature believer:
First make sure you’re not so busy that you’re unapproachable. The saying goes, “if the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” Check your heart as to why you need to be so busy. Your worth is found in Christ—not in your schedule or what you think is produced from your busyness.
Find someone to mentor—a younger lady in your local church who needs some love and encouragement. Read together, pray together, and get intentional. You have to start, and a great mindset to have is to "be what you need.” Be the person you wish you had when you were in that stage of life. Don’t make someone suffer just because you had to…But make sure you’re rooted in Christ yourself.
Don’t neglect to study and go deeper in your Bible. Don’t rely on what you once did or once knew.Continually seek what the Lord has for you. He is a well that has no bottom and can never run dry.
Don’t stop serving.You might have to get creative. You might have to write letters of encouragement and pray instead of wrestling babies on the floor of the nursery, but your gifts are needed right now, please don’t hold back.
Bonus for us all: Make it a point for the Bible to become more “normal” than checking your phone, watching TV, or listening to the radio. All those pursuits that the world says are “okay” because you’re tired and just need a minute (trust me, I know the feeling), swap them out for God’s word. There is no “mindless” activity that will fill you up or give you more energy than your Creator’s voice.
Friend, I know all of this takes intention. I know all of this seems “hard”…but I promise it’s worth it. We aren’t living this life for just this life. We have so much more in store, so let’s be disciplined enough to do what’s often hard and reap the blessings. Let’s do what seems weird to the world and show them the light of love and joy that we are filled up with by doing what others don’t.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NLT)