Spiritual Formation - Part 2 (Post 5)

How do I "grow up" in my faith?  What shapes faith?  Amy Grant, early in her career, sang a song that has stuck in my mind over these many years.  The title?  "Fat Little Baby".  It was not about an adorable, round, precious little baby.  It was about Christians who never grow past the fat baby stage.  They remain stuck, by their own choice, in the demanding, self absorbed stage of an infant.  They never grow.  Peter addressed the problem in the first of his letters. He said,

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2: 2 - 3)

You see, the goal of spiritual life is to grow up - not stay a fat little baby.  Are you growing?  The question in front of us is one of spiritual growth.  What forms us spiritually?  To try and answer we are observing the way Jesus shaped Peter.

We discovered two principles for spiritual formation in Post 4.  They are:

1. Trust God ... and do kingdom of God work.
2. Keep your focus on the Lord ... not on your circumstances.

Today let's continue our observations as Jesus shapes Peter ...

Read John 6: 60 - 69

Jesus is a popular figure.  People all over Galilee flocked to hear him - to experience the wonders he performed - to be healed - to be fed - the LOVE this Rabbi!  We read a discourse in John 6 that marked a change in the crowd's mindset.  Jesus began to do more than perform miracles.  He began to teach hard things.  I think these few verses are some of the saddest in all of scripture.  Masses turned and walked away. They deserted this Rabbi.  They didn't understand or like what he taught.  So they left.  You can feel the heaviness in the atmosphere as Jesus asked his 12 closest followers about their intentions.  Peter responded with his faithfulness.  He would NOT leave.  He would stay.  He would follow.  What do we learn?  What principle can we add to our own knowledge of what it means to be a growing disciple?

Choose faithfulness - even when the instructions are difficult.

Read Matthew 15: 1 - 20

An interesting conversation!  Peter heard it all.  And Peter was serious enough about his own "spiritual formation" that he questioned Jesus to be sure that he understood.  These Pharisees were challenging a basic premise of Judaism's understanding of "cleanness" before God.  Ceremonial hand washing was basic in Judaism - foundational.  So was Jesus saying it didn't matter?  Peter said, "Explain it."  And Jesus does.  God requires a pure heart.  Everything else spills out of the heart.  Ceremonial hand washing was just that - ceremonial.  It was not the core.  Jesus took his twelve disciples to the core - the root.  And he would take you and I there as well.  Do you want to "grow up" spiritually?  If your answer is "yes", then you must check your heart.  Listen to what comes out of your mouth.  Observe your attitudes and behaviors.  When we erupt in rage - know that it comes from the heart.  When we gossip and slander another - know that it comes from the heart.  When we wallow in self-indulgence - know that it comes from the heart.  When we refuse to forgive and desire revenge - know that it comes from the heart.  When we are hypocritical, saying one thing and doing another - know that it comes from the heart.  What principle can we add to our growing list?

Be more concerned about the condition of your heart than with outward forms and ceremonies.

Let's close our reflection today with the words of David - a prayer - one that we would benefit from praying each and every morning before our feet hit the ground - before the business of our day begins.  If you have not prayed it yet today, I invite you to join me right now ...

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 (Psalm 51:10)