Have We Arrived?

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

    When I read biographies of great Christian men and women, I'm humbled by their devotion to God. I read of the many hours these saints spent on their knees in prayer and look at my own prayer life as a failure in comparison. What astounds me is when I read of these brothers and sisters wishing they prayed more or prayed with greater intensity. As devoted as they were, they still felt further growth was needed.

    During my days as a member of a Christian fraternity, I thought I was a mature believer. I thought I had arrived in my Christian walk. Now I look back and see how far I have come. But I also look forward and see how far I have to go. When I gain victory in one area of my life, I always seem to find another area needing work. I thank God for the victories, while asking for His help to continue to grow.

    While we walk this earth, we can never say we have arrived. God will not cease refining us and perfecting our lives for His glory. He desires for us to have a deeper prayer life. He wants us to develop a greater thirst for His Word. He hopes we will love Him more dearly and follow Him more closely. He wishes we would have a stronger hunger to reach out to the lost and a deeper yearning to encourage our fellow believers. He wants us to become more and more like Jesus.

    Allow God to work in your life, helping you increase in your devotion to Him. Your growth may be slow, but if you trust in Him, it will be steady.