When you walk into the doctors office, one of the first things that the nurse asks of you is to step on the scales. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that for most all of us, we dread doing that. We don’t want to read those numbers that “squeal on us” about those bowls of ice cream we have before bedtime each night. Most of the time we wish those scales had read at least 20 pounds lighter. However, I want to speak to those few other times.
For example, there’s not a mom out there who doesn’t know what her child weighed upon birth. Then comes that first doctor visit when the infant is weighed to check on his/her growth to see if all is normal. There is the expectation that weight has been gained if all is well. For there to be no change in the childs weight in cause for alarm.
In Colossians, Paul writes to a church and tells them he has been praying that growth would take place in them. In Col. 1:9 he shares “We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, …”
Paul is in prayer that the church he planted is one that is healthy and spiritually growing, that God is changing them every day. He is hoping that is what will happen. It is to be expected.
Compare that to what he says in another letter to a different church, the one in Thessalonia:
“We remember before our God and Father you work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope. . .you became imitators of us . . . and you became a model to all the believers . . .your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
Wow! The Thessalonians didn’t have to be afraid to step on the scales. They were not afraid of its reading, because their health was evident. They had been taking care of spiritual business. They were eating the right things and exercising in the right way (spiritually speaking). But you see, for those who are in Christ, that is a natural occurrence. Just as sure as an infant is expected to gain weight, it is expected that a newborn Christian would progress toward maturity. Paul is saying to Thessalonia, with a pinch on the cheek, “My how you have grown.”
In 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul delivers a challenge to another church. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you., unless, of course, you fail the test?”
So come on folks, let’s all line up at the scales. You know, the truth be told, most times we know what those scales are going to say before we reluctantly step on them. We are all too aware of the excessive calories and the lack of exercise. We know we have strayed too long and too far from the Word of God and that our actions and attitudes of recent days betray that fact.
Let’s get back to time in the Word and serving in the Lord that health may return.
Leaving a Legacy 