We seem to be reverting back to summer here. It has been eighty to ninety degrees the last few days. Even though we live in Southern California I think it is strange to me to have this hot weather the middle of fall! Yesterday we spent a few hours with my sister and her two children at Disneyland. Her pass allows her to let people in so we had a great time enjoying the park together without having to pay the normal price. Tyler wasn’t so sure about the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. On the two drops at the beginning of the ride he was gripping my arm. He really likes the Jungle Cruise though.

I really enjoyed Bobby’s exhortation to the high school students on Sunday. He is continuing to teach through 1 John in a series called “To Be A Christian Is…” This week was “…Growing Spiritually.” In 1 John 2 he addresses our spiritual state describing it as–babies, young men and fathers. Bobby said, “Spiritual growth is expected.” This is so contrary to what is normally taught in youth groups. Most people think that if a young person (or any person for that matter) thinks that being a Christian is just one event where they pray a prayer that is enough. But they are wrong. Being a Christian means that we must be growing up in Christ, seeking to live like Him.

One part of Bobby’s lesson that he really said well was answering the question, “How do I grow?” He said, “What is one of the main factors in growing physically from being a baby to a young man?–Eating.” We take care to eat three meals and even more a day and that is how we have all grown from infants to adults or somewhere in between. I thought it was great how he showed that this is how we grow spiritually–by “eating” God’s Word.

I know that when I’ve skipped a meal, my stomach hurts and I might even get a headache. We should feel the effects of not “eating” spiritually. Sadly days and weeks can go by and some of our students are not in the Word and don’t seem to notice any effects. But the reality is that if we are not “eating” the Word we are malnourished and weak spiritually.

Bobby said, “If sin is increasing in your life, you are probably not in the Word, daily. If you are studying God’s Word each day, you will see a decrease of sin in your life.” I know how true this is. When I neglect to study Scripture I am not as keenly aware of how totally perfect God is and how seriously I need to take obeying Him–so I allow myself to sin. However, when I am daily and intently studying God’s Word I am much more alert and active in resisting temptation and seeking to be obedient to Him. I hope you will check out Bobby’s [1] lesson for yourself and make sure that you spend some time in God’s Word today!

“Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You.”
Psalm 119:11