Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/03/08)
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TITLE: Time Spent Today Saves Time Tommorrow | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
01/09/08 -
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We are forever saved by a one-time decision to believe in the Person and Works of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but developing a meaningful walk with Him requires time and dedication.
There are no shortcuts. What we know or don’t know about His word is what know or don’t know about Him.
Only a daily helping of the Word of God can satisfy the spiritual appetite that accompanies genuine discipleship. The more we learn about Him, all the more there is to learn.
Believing the Gospel Message is what delivers Hell-bound sinners from the state of spiritual death, separated from God, in which they were born. This is why one must be born again. Once saved, sinners saved by grace are then given the opportunity to become disciples.
The New Testament Greek word for disciple is “mathetes”.
Mathetes means to be technical students in a teacher-pupil relationship. Learning the Word of God under the ministry of a Biblically qualified pastor-teacher is what it actually means to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God will arrange for opportunities to apply all that He has taught us.
For instance, we cannot really know what it is to forgive or to be forgiven, until we go through experiences that place us in the roles of both the one who needs to forgive and the one in need of forgiveness. Placing something on the back burner, only to bring it up again at a later time is not forgiveness.
Suffering is a part of the human experience for believers and unbelievers alike. Pursuing discipleship adds to adversity that will come our way.
The difference between the spiritually mature and the backsliding believer is revealed in the way each one responds to adversity.
The spiritually mature will experience the peace that surpasses all understanding whereas the other’s response to adversity will be no different than his/her unbelieving counterparts.
A Christian who chooses to go through life here in the devil’s world without a solid Biblical support system is very likely to become “Luke 8: 14” type of believer. Chances of success can be likened to driving an automobile with a blindfold on.
The Word of God can be neglected at the point of reception, metabolization, or application.
The Word of God can be neglected at the point of reception by failing to receive it on a daily basis. We wouldn’t think of going a day without feeding our bodies that are destined for dust, but we often find all kinds of reasons and excuses for not having the time to feed our souls that will live forever in one of two locations and environments.
Everyone is given the same 24 hours each day. The priorities we set determine how they will be consumed. Where we choose to place Bible study time on our daily “things to do” list is where we choose to place God.
Granted, there are always the unexpected interruptions in any plan we make, but over a period of time we become the product of our own decisions. To be Biblical ignorant is a choice we make.
The Word of God can be neglected at the point of metabolization. This happens when one receives the Word of God through his ears or eyes, but then does not digest it, making it a part of his thought processes.
The Word of God can be neglected at the point of application, when after it has been received and metabolized, one fails to apply it to the daily events of life.
Applying the principles of Scripture to the daily events of our personal lives is what makes any given day one with meaning, purpose, and definition that glorifies God, or one that we spent trying to please ourselves.
Like taking the wrong exit from a freeway, our error might not be made readily known to us if we neglect the map, directions, and road signs along the highway of life found in the Word of God.
In the meantime, we waste, time, energy, and often make matters worse by pointing the finger of blame at everyone and everything else for the wrong turns we made.
Spending time in the Word of God today will save us time in the devil’s world tomorrow.
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I wonder if it would benefit from being simplified a bit - you had quite a few sub-plots, as it were, and in a short piece, I think the focus perhaps needs to be tighter. Keep writing.
At times I had a hard time following it--as if it needed to be more finely focused.