2 Peter 3:14-18 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Two of the questions posed in today's study guide are, "Do you ever feel like Paul's writings, or other parts of the Bible are hard to understand?" "What passage have you struggled with the most lately?" I would do well do consistently implement Jose's 7/24 challenge, but that should be a starting point. I wonder how many at Ridgecrest see it as the final goal? I wonder what amount of time a survey would show most Christians spend in prayer, meditation and Bible study?
When a Mormon missionary knocks on my front door I often times try to engage in a doctrinal exchange only to find my grasp of knowledge is lacking in comparison. While the conversation is polite and respectful, I realize right away I don't have the catalog of memorized scripture, the doctrinal background or ease of delivery as the young person at my door. Regardless of your thoughts on Mormonism, people of the Mormon faith are well-versed in scripture, doctrine and defense of their belief system. Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, etc. could all learn something from the Mormon faith when it comes to equipping their membership.
But that would take hard work, time and accountability. Twenty-four minutes a day. Great place to start. Twenty-four minutes a day to create a powerful, world-changing Christian? Not gonna' do it.
Maybe I am overlaying my personal bias on the past several day's of readings, but I am seeing a pattern emerge. That is Christian growth requires sustained, dedicated, intentional work on the part of the Believer. Bible reading must become Bible study. Meditation must become a time of focused connection with God. Prayer must become intense and fervent. Sitting my computer's desktop timer for 24 minutes, then peeking frequently in hopes it is about to "0", will not get me where I want/need to be as a Christian.
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