Last weekend I was blessed to be part of a retreat that pushed through despite the bad weather. Retreats are always refreshing. At the very least, they provide a momentary, tranquil escape to the otherwise busy state of the city – away from all the hassles of the daily life we live and complicate. They also pull us aside and give us time to reflect on matters we normally shrug off and discount as irrelevant or least priority. Most importantly, retreats give us the serene opportunity to approach God and be intimate with Him – devoid of all pretenses, open to hearing the Gospel and invite Jesus to reign in our hearts as Lord and Savior.
Author’s Note: This is inspired by the recent Singles@Work retreat. =)
For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. – 2 Peter 1:5-7
I have heard the Gospel being shared many times over the past years since I have come to know and accepted Christ, but the impact it creates amazes me to this day. To the one who claims that God’s Word is alive and powerful, he has evidence to prove it – the lives being transformed by those who receive it. A full understanding of the good news brings forth not only a sense of unexplainable peace and joy, but a longing to know Jesus even more.
As infants do not remain infants, so should our relationship with the Lord progress from the seed of faith that has been planted in our hearts to a strong and firmly rooted tree bearing much fruit; that we may become God’s letters to the world.
Let us exercise our faith as evidenced by God’s goodness.
Let us examine God’s character in the Scriptures so as to gain knowledge of Him.
Let our understanding of the Lord prevail that we may have self-control.
Let us consider bearing self-control as it is the fruit of the Spirit and perseverance.
Let our perseverance perfect us to godliness.
Let God shine in us to bring others to Christ.
Let us carry out God’s greatest commandments: to love Him with everything we are, and to love others we do ourselves.
To believers, both old and new, it is a comforting thought that the Hand that holds the universe is the same Hand that holds ours as we walk through the path He has set before us; that we are not alone in the journey He has invited us to embark. Let us hold firm to God’s promise as expressed in the pages of Scripture.
“I will never leave; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5b
Perhaps the reason for the Christian life being often referred to as a “walk” is that it should be continuous; we progress. We don’t stagnate. We don’t stand still. We don’t slack off. We walk.
Keep walking.
