Originally posted by SwissGambit
Baby steps. 🙂
Without you elaborating on the phrase "Baby Steps" I am not sure what you mean.
May I always be as a
"new born babe" desiring the pure milk of the word of God as the Apostle Peter exhorted -
"As newborn babes, long for the guileless milk of the word in order that by it you may grow." ( 1 Peter 2:2)
I hope I NEVER lose that longing for the pure, guileless nourishing sustenance of the word of God, which none of man's wisdom can impart.
I wish that I could honestly say that you have written something on this Forum that presented some substantial spiritual maturity that I could look up to. There are plenty of such people. But sadly, I can't count you as among them.
I am not sure you have even gotten born into the spiritual life yet let alone having progress in any maturity.
It is good that you can digest arguments from a philosopher like Alvin Plantingo. Please do not think that this impresses some of us with any spiritual maturity. The Apostle Paul told the philosophical minded in the church in Corinth that they were
"babes in Christ".
They may have mulled over Greek philosophers' debates. But spiritually Paul informed them of their infantile situation.
On the other hand Christ said we all have to be as little children or else we would not even enter into the kingdom of God. So I am quite happy to have the trusting attitude towards my heavenly Father as a "baby steps".
There is a child like trust that Christ warns each of us should have towards the Gospel -
" And He called a little child to Him and stood him in their midst and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you turn and become like little children, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
He therefore who will humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens.
And whoever receives one such little child because of My name, receives Me;
And whoever stumbles one of these little ones who believe into Me, it is more profitable for him that a great millstone be hung arund his neck and he be drowned in the open sea." (Matthew 18:2-6)
Some important points I derive from this passage:
1.) We must humble ourselves as a little child to enter the kingdom.
2.) Once we enter we must continue with the trusting attitude of a little child to be deemed greatest in the kingdom.
3.) If God sends a little child to you with the Gospel
truth you better not reject the message. Even if it comes from a child far below you in age, you better humbly receive the truth. God will count your receiving the truth from a child equivalent to you receiving Christ.
4.) If you like to damage the faith of Christians you better be careful. If for instance you cause some child Christian to "stumble" in faith you better seek God for forgiveness.
It would be better for you to have had a millstone tied around your neck and be thrown into the open sea. The offending of the faith of even a little child could put you in danger of agonizing retribution at the hands of God. So be careful.
If you have children SwissGambit, look at them tonight and consider " Do I want to stumble these little ones from believing in Jesus Christ ?"