“I was looking at the apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians the other day,” Stan commented one morning, “and I saw that Paul, in a three-word statement, gave an admonition that applies to all of us, but especially to me.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“That growth as a Christian pursuing discipleship doesn’t just happen all by itself.”
“He wrote that in three words?” I questioned. “You must be kidding!”
“Not at all,” Stan replied. “The three words that opened that for me are, “See to it.”
“See to it,” I repeated. “See to what?”
“In this particular instance, Paul was writing about deception in the church,” Stan said. “However, it seems to me that what Paul wrote in those three words is not only a warning, but also an encouragement for me to take the steps necessary to see that Christian growth occurs in my life.”
“What kind of steps?” I asked.
“How about those three steps of discipleship Jesus talked about?” Stan said. “How about starting there?”
“You mean like denying self, taking up what God has for us to take up, and then following?”
“Looks good to me!” Stan replied. “Start there, and then go on to spend the rest of the time I have here working out the salvation that has been worked in by the finished work of the cross.”
Concluding, he added, “if I don’t take those steps to see to my growth as a Christian, who will? That growth is not going to happen all by itself! I need to see to it!”
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Bible verses to consider:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you saw to providing the way for me to spend eternity in your presence through the cross of Christ. Thank you for those who saw to bringing me to the truth of your free and gracious provision so I could accept it. Thank you, too, for the ways you have for me to draw ever closer to you on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I don’t take the steps to draw closer to you as a disciple. I do that because that’s what I choose. Please forgive that foolishness, and help me follow every step of your lead in seeing to the deepest possible relationship with you. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you seen to your eternal destination into God’s presence by accepting His free and gracious provision? If no, why? What’s standing in the way? Do you really want to spend eternity separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with seeing to an ever-closer walk with God on this side of eternity? Choices are involved. If you sense the need for changes in seeing to what God has for you to be and to do while He keeps you here, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 