"that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,"
Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
Waves can be created by different things like the wind or a boat. For many years I lived by the Rhine River in Germany and every day barges and boats would go up and down the river, and as they passed by they would create waves. One day, I was down by the river and I noticed a woman walking her dog. This dog was running up and down the bank of the river chasing the waves that had been created by a passing barge. When one wave would crest and disappear the dog would see another wave and start chasing after that one. The dog was very busy chasing all those waves, but he never had an effect on any of them.
Instability, impatience, and difficulty paying attention are all characteristics of childhood. Paul, and other writers of the New Testament, compare spiritual growth to natural growth. God has a place and purpose for each Christian, and God's plan is for His children to grow and develop into spiritual maturity and take their place in the Body of Christ. However, to find that place and to fully carry out that purpose requires mature, stable believers. But, Christians are often running here and there, naturally and spiritually, chasing the latest wave that they see, and there are many winds that blow in life that can create waves.
Sometimes Christians are caught up in the latest popular wind of doctrine and they spend time pursuing those seemingly new, and exciting teachings. On the other hand, some Christians go from one crisis and difficulty to the next, and they never get fully established in the truth of God's Word because they are constantly running around putting out the latest fire that has broken out in their life. We all need to continually develop ourselves in the truth of God's Word and to learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. By doing this we will not only be stable, mature Christians but we will avoid the trap of just chasing every wave that we see.
Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)
Waves can be created by different things like the wind or a boat. For many years I lived by the Rhine River in Germany and every day barges and boats would go up and down the river, and as they passed by they would create waves. One day, I was down by the river and I noticed a woman walking her dog. This dog was running up and down the bank of the river chasing the waves that had been created by a passing barge. When one wave would crest and disappear the dog would see another wave and start chasing after that one. The dog was very busy chasing all those waves, but he never had an effect on any of them.
Instability, impatience, and difficulty paying attention are all characteristics of childhood. Paul, and other writers of the New Testament, compare spiritual growth to natural growth. God has a place and purpose for each Christian, and God's plan is for His children to grow and develop into spiritual maturity and take their place in the Body of Christ. However, to find that place and to fully carry out that purpose requires mature, stable believers. But, Christians are often running here and there, naturally and spiritually, chasing the latest wave that they see, and there are many winds that blow in life that can create waves.
Sometimes Christians are caught up in the latest popular wind of doctrine and they spend time pursuing those seemingly new, and exciting teachings. On the other hand, some Christians go from one crisis and difficulty to the next, and they never get fully established in the truth of God's Word because they are constantly running around putting out the latest fire that has broken out in their life. We all need to continually develop ourselves in the truth of God's Word and to learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. By doing this we will not only be stable, mature Christians but we will avoid the trap of just chasing every wave that we see.
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