But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
If reading articles about golf made me a great golfer, I’d be in the Hall of Fame. But because my shots curve uncontrollably, or I make poor contact, I often make a quick fix to my swing mid-round and hope the problem goes away. Usually, things get worse in the long run.
Rather than surviving my rounds with makeshift adjustments, my instructor suggests I’d be much better off making some changes that address my issues over a whole season, not just on the back nine.
When building, or in my case, rebuilding a swing, you have to incorporate many ingredients: grip, posture, balance, takeaway, and speed. All are necessary. This spring, I’m working to build something reliable, and I’m working on drills to improve my swing path, body rotation, and contact. Shall we pray?
One of my favorite movies is What About Bob? This comedy with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss was about taking baby steps. It resonates with me because I suffer from swing envy when I’m with players who have amazing games. I find myself, like Bob, whispering to myself, “baby steps, baby steps.”
This is true in my pursuit of becoming more like Jesus, too. Like golf, some steps will have an amazing and life-improving impact over time. A study was done by Christian leaders around the country who worked in ministry with children, college students, couples, seniors, and single young adults. They landed on seven primary growth markers, recorded in Kevin Harney’s book, Organic Disciples.
Biblical Engagement:
Learning how to know, love, and follow the teachings of Scripture.
Passionate Prayer:
Increasing your ability to speak to God, listen to God and seek God with others.
Wholehearted Worship:
Developing hearts, lips, and lives that celebrate the glory and goodness of God.
Humble Service:
Extending acts of kindness and service in the name of Jesus.
Joyful Generosity:
Recognizing that all we have is a gift from God and learning to freely share what we have.
Consistent Community:
Loving God’s people and connecting with them regularly.
Organic Outreach:
Sharing the good news of Jesus in the flow of normal day-to-day life.
Kevin reminds us that when it comes to spiritual maturity, God doesn’t give us a menu to choose from; rather, He gives us a recipe for spiritual development and the ingredients for spiritual growth. It’s not pick-and-choose. When we’re given a recipe, the idea is to follow it and include all the ingredients.
By developing these ingredients and markers in our lives, we will move upward toward God, inward toward God’s family, and outward with the good news about Jesus.
I hope you’ll grow in your love for God, engage more in practices that connect your heart to Jesus, and deepen your partnership with the Holy Spirit this spring to share the gospel with those far from God. You can take your spiritual growth assessment at organicdisciples.org.
PRAYER: Father, may I keep taking small but significant steps forward in my spiritual journey, incorporating these ingredients for spiritual growth.