Under Construction
Austin is under construction. No matter which way you turn, you are likely to encounter an excavator — or find yourself blocked by a backhoe. When it comes to progress, short-term inconvenience is often the price of long-term improvement.
As I met with a group of young disciples recently, I was reminded that spiritual growth rarely follows a straight line. In fact, sometimes there seems to be more mess than progress. Two steps forward are interrupted by three steps back. Promising patterns are disrupted by a nature that is all too human.
Making disciples is not for the faint of heart.
In those moments when I get discouraged — even disillusioned by my own lack of steady spiritual progress — I am reminded of Jesus and his unwavering commitment to make and send disciples.
On one memorable night, Christ’s own disciples gave him plenty of reason to question the investment. Yet rather than throwing in the towel, Jesus picked one up. And as he dried the freshly washed feet of his followers, he continued to teach: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
So the next time you encounter a Christian life under construction, don’t be misled by the mess. Behind the yellow construction tape is a disciple in progress. And thankfully, the One doing the building isn’t finished yet.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Philippians 3:12
— Pastor Pete
As I met with a group of young disciples recently, I was reminded that spiritual growth rarely follows a straight line. In fact, sometimes there seems to be more mess than progress. Two steps forward are interrupted by three steps back. Promising patterns are disrupted by a nature that is all too human.
Making disciples is not for the faint of heart.
In those moments when I get discouraged — even disillusioned by my own lack of steady spiritual progress — I am reminded of Jesus and his unwavering commitment to make and send disciples.
On one memorable night, Christ’s own disciples gave him plenty of reason to question the investment. Yet rather than throwing in the towel, Jesus picked one up. And as he dried the freshly washed feet of his followers, he continued to teach: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”
So the next time you encounter a Christian life under construction, don’t be misled by the mess. Behind the yellow construction tape is a disciple in progress. And thankfully, the One doing the building isn’t finished yet.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Philippians 3:12
— Pastor Pete