On Living Like a Baby Christian

I think when most people first begin their walk with Christ (a.k.a. "get saved"), they are excited, eager, maybe a little nervous, and they want to drink up as much of God and His Word as they can. Yes, they're on an emotional high, but they're also on a spiritual high. How many of us who have been on this journey for a few years, emotions not withstanding, can say that we're still in that place?

Our verses today are found in Colossians 2:6-7, which says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him..." Just as. In other words, remember what you were like when you first recieved Christ? Be like that. Easier said than done? Probably. But here's a great thing about God: when He tells us to do something, He always gives us a little help.

How can we get back to wanting more and more of Him and living like we're excited that we know Him? Verse 7 very kindly gives us the answer: "[live] rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught..." Spend time in God's Word. Find a Bible Study (either a book or a group) and learn everything you can. Ask God to give you a hunger for Him and His Word. (Believe me when I tell you, of all the prayers I've prayed lately that have seemed to go unasnwered, that is definitely not one of them!!) Be like the Bereans Luke talks about in Acts 17:11. When you hear someone preach or teach from the Bible, go home and check out what he or she said for yourself. Dig a little deeper than you normally do. Check out the cross-references in your Bible when you read something. Ask God to show you something new, even in the old, familiar verses and stories. I truly believe that if you ask God for more of Him and for a better understanding of His Word, He will gladly comply.

Finally, add the last piece of verse 7: "[live] overflowing with thankfulness". I've found that there's no better way to fix a bad mood, or even a spiritual slump than to start thanking God for things. Try this: make a list every day of things you are thankful for, but use the date as a goal. For example, on the 7th of the month, list 7 things you're thankful for. It'll be an easy exercise at the beginning of the month, right?

We all go through highs and lows. We all have times when we feel so close to God and other times when we're not even sure we're saved. But if we make an effort to study the Bible, we will be "strengthened in the faith". (And by the way, on days when I'm feeling less than spiritual, I tell myself I'm studying it for "academic" purposes and it seems to eventually get me back in the right frame of mind.) We may not always have the same emotional high that comes from a new or renewed relationship with Christ, but with a little effort and by God's grace, we can still live our lives with the same hunger for Him. And if you need help getting started on today's list, thank God that He never asks us to do anything without also giving us what we need in order to obey.