Hebrews 6:12 (KJV)That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

I graduated high school with a 86.5 grade average, the bottom of the top ten percent of my class. Sounds dull and should not be applauded because I did it without taking my books home and doing the home work.

Later in life I discovered that things were not always going to be as easy as it seemed. I’d missed out on the most important aspects of education, striving for excellence by setting goals and attaining them. I robbed myself of a most excellent future by making false assumptions and not valuing the hard work of others that had set a good example for us all.

Now, years later, I apply that learned lesson to my Christian walk. I do not sit and listen to the preachers and teachers and ignore my homework. Being all you can be in Christ cannot be achieved in idle ease. Sure Christ has forgiven me of my sins, but that is not all there is to knowing Christ and the power of His love. Sure the Holy Spirit has been given as our spiritual tutor but He doesn’t just instruct us on Sunday.

Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Please brothers and sisters in Christ, do not settle for anything less then what God has waiting for you.

Galatians 4:18a But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing,

This week as I was seeking out words to share with the readers of Lifelines, I stumbled across a precious find that excited me very much. I was zealously affected as I wrote the article. In my excitement I shared it with my wife. She had a different take, one I didn’t anticipate. So I sent it to Fred without comment as to my wife’s viewpoint. Fred returned with a different concern.

I took these two counsels and used them as food for thought. The conclusion is that my discovery was not for general consumption, but meant just for me. There is a wealth of devotional writers today. Not all churches have their own staff. Each of us desire to use our gifts in service to the Lord and our readership. We all have one thing in common, we are people who not only share a word but need a word. When is it personal and when is it right for general consumption?

No matter how experienced, gifted, mature or wise the writer, we all need sound counsel. Being zealously affected speaks to the condition of an individual and has no relationship to the needs of the body. When we are zealously affected we need to look to those who know us best to have a proper understanding of the purpose for that zeal. If others are in agreement, together we can discover how best to serve to edify the body. Either way, we are not in this alone, we need each other.

Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels;