"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
–Hebrews 5:13,14 (NIV)
As painful as it's been to face the dark, putrid recesses of my heart that have gone unattended for far too long, I can't help but feel overwhelmingly grateful.
I'm grateful for the loving discipline of my Heavenly Father, I'm grateful that I finally have a personal revelation of His grace, and I'm grateful that He is at work within me to sanctify me for His good purposes (see Hebrews 12:6, Romans 3:24, and Philippians 2:12-13).
I've found a lot of encouragement lately through studying the life of the Apostle Peter. While Peter certainly did a lot of incredible things in his lifetime, many of those deeds were actually incredibly foolish. I can relate to Peter—being led by the Spirit one moment and then getting dragged around by my sinful nature the next.
When you stop to think about it, it's amazing that Jesus chose to build His Church the "exemplar of the forgiven sinner," (Harrington, Daniel J. "Peter the Rock." America, August 18–25, 2008). That's good news for you and me. If Christ can see the potential hidden beneath the scruffy beard of an impetuous fisherman, He can certainly draw out our goodness as well.
In the Gospels, we walk with Peter through both his victories and his failures. Along the way Peter learns valuable lessons in humility, which serve to level-out his pride and solidify his shaky faith.
You might say that Peter has to endure the pain of teething before he can bite into the life of influence that awaits him. Well, you might not say that, but I might. In fact, I will. I'll share snippets from the life of Peter to support each point in this list of...
3 Tell-Tale Signs that
You're Cutting Teeth
(progressing to an exciting new level of spiritual maturity)
1. You Make a Mess of Things
If you're cutting teeth on a spiritual level, you're just as likely to mess up the things you touch. You might succumb to temptation in ways you've never dreamed possible, or you might face a series of frustrations in your everyday life that bring you to your knees. Whether you're botching up a project at work, or spewing hurtful words in a conversation, or backing up into a fire hydrant, messy circumstances can tap into the reservoir of your sinful nature and bring it all gushing to the surface.
PETER'S EXAMPLE:
| “It is precisely because we resist the darkness in ourselves that we miss the depths of the loveliness, beauty, brilliance, creativity, and joy that lie at our core.” –Thomas Moore, Dark Nights of the Soul |
Lesson 1: Don't stand in the way of Jesus. Pick up your cross and follow.
Matthew 16:22-24 - Peter attempts to stand between Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross.
When Jesus invites you to deny yourself and follow Him, it's time to push aside your instincts for self-preservation and self-promotion, and let Christ do His work. (See Philippians 1:6.)
Lesson 2: Accept the fact that you're a mess, and allow Jesus to make you clean.
John 13:2-11 and Matthew 26:31-35 - During the Last Supper, Peter refuses to let Jesus wash his feet (initially) and then goes on to declare that he would die with Jesus rather than disown Him, despite Jesus' prediction otherwise.
Recently, a wise pastor at my church reminded me that grieving over our moral depravity is actually a good thing. It means that we're sensitive to the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, and it's an opportunity to humbly accept anew just how much we need God's grace.
If we're going to move onward and upward in our spiritual journey, we must recognize how helpless we are to live the Christian life in our own strength. When we receive God's grace, mourn our wrongdoings, and humble ourselves before the LORD, He will draw near to us and lift us up again (see James 4:5-10).
Lesson 3: Keep watch and pray.
Matthew 26:36-46 - Peter falls asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus had charged him to "keep watch and pray."
When our heads are stuffed with Bible-knowledge, and our dresser drawers are bursting with conference t-shirts, and our egos are puffed-up with pride in our theology and morality, we're in a dangerous place. The enemy of our souls is a keen hunter who knows how to lie in wait for the most opportune moment.
I can't explain this concept any better than Peter himself: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." –1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)
2. You're Irritable and Fussy
PETER'S EXAMPLE:
Lesson 4: Be meek like Jesus.
John 18:10-11 and Matthew 26:69-75 - Peter cuts off the servant's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane and then denies Jesus three times, even calling down curses.
In the verses above, Peter acts on selfish, fearful impulses. Instead of patterning his behavior after Jesus' meek submission, Peter lashes out like a maniac whenever he feels cornered.
How do you respond to accusation? When a spouse claims that you're slacking on chores, or an employer questions your integrity, or a child says the mashed potatoes are too lumpy, how do you react? In the midst of a teething season, it can be difficult to maintain your calm. You might respond aggressively or passive-aggressively, depending on your temperament.
Conversely, Jesus calls us to bless and not curse, and to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:14-21). That's a tall order, but we can carry it out if we rely on God's grace.
If you're struggling with irritability, try intentionally seeking the grace of God each morning. Before your feet touch the floor, ask the LORD to renew your mental attitude and help you to put on your new self. Pray that you'll avoid sinning in the midst of any frustrations you'll face (see Ephesians 4:22-27).
3. You Crave Something to Chew On
When we're faced with the magnitude of our shortcomings, the blow to our ego can seem overwhelming. We may feel tempted to give up, or we may attempt to escape reality through pacifying our flesh and reverting to old ways.
PETER'S EXAMPLE:
Lesson 5: When you're called, you're called.
John 21 - After Jesus is Resurrected, Peter grows restless and decides to go fishing. His nets come up empty until Jesus appears on the scene. On the shore, Peter is reinstated.
In the passage above, Peter decides he's going fishing. Maybe he needs some space to wrap his mind around the Resurrection, or maybe the other disciples are getting under his skin, or maybe just maybe he's seeking comfort in a familiar old activity. After denying Jesus three times, he might have serious doubts that the LORD has any further use for him anyway.
As it turns out, Peter can't manage to reel in a single sardine to lay on his sandwich that night. How frustrating that must have been for a professional fisherman!
It's not until Jesus arrives the next morning that everything changes. The nets burst at the seams, and Jesus reinstates Peter through asking him to profess his love three times. Each time, Jesus affirms Peter's divine calling to be a shepherd to the church.
When we mess up repeatedly and severely, we might find ourselves wondering if our call to ministry is null and void. Even if you don't minister for a living, you might question whether you should go on serving through the gifts God has given you.
While it's sometimes necessary to take a break from ministry in order to sort out our mess and find our spiritual footing, I don't think that God retracts his calling from our lives. Your ministry might change shape over time and your sphere of influence may fluctuate, but when you're called, you're called.
That's my belief, anyway. No matter how messy you are, when you ask Christ to make you clean again, you become an "instrument of righteousness," intended for "special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work," (see Romans 6:13 and 2 Timothy 2:20-21).
So when you fail, don't throw in the towel and seek refuge in a row of Oreos, or in a clearance rack at the mall, or in a romantic relationship, or in some vice you thought you overcame years ago. Those indulgences might bring a temporary sense of relief, but guilt and discouragement will soon follow.
Trust a girl who's been there: the restlessness in your soul won't subside until you delight in Jesus: "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight..." (Jeremiah 15:16). Don't settle for less in life when the rich goodness of God's Kingdom is available to you.Hang in there, God is at work...
Did you know that new teeth don't actually cut through flesh when they emerge through the gums? Instead, the body releases chemicals "that cause some cells in the gums to die and separate, allowing the teeth to come through," (see article). In a similar way, the hard work of sanctification isn't dependent solely on our efforts. Sure, there's chewing involved, but "it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose," (Philippians 2:13).
I'm going to go out on a limb here and close with a word that I sense God has placed on my heart:
It's time to dream again, precious one. Lift your eyes up to the hills. Where does your help comes from? Yes, it comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. The Ancient of Days has crafted a dream and placed it in your heart. Do you remember it? Do you remember, precious one? It's time to clear off the rubble and pick it up again. Look to the hills. Look far and wide. The harvest is plentiful. Do you see it? Do you feel the fire churning within, moving you forward? Keep in step, precious one. God's Spirit is on the move.
