Week Of 11/12

                                                      CRUSADERS DEVOTIONAL

                                                              11-12-12/MONDAY

Last Tuesday night a small group of Crusaders and I went up north to Weld County at Spicer’s arena to watch a few Crusaders participate in a barrel racing event. What an event it was, there was about seventy competitors in all. The Crusaders competing were either fairly new to the sport or on a horse that was. But you never would have known it. The courage and grit they rode with, I couldn’t have been more proud even if they were running in the Pro Rodeo National Finals. I tell ya, I watched all the girls run since they were kids. I was lucky enough to once again watch the next up and coming group start their memories. They lead the charge with no fear, no apprehension and left no doubt horse and rider teamed as one. Telling the truth it put a lump in my throat. I feel as if all the girls are mine, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for them, or anything that could stop me from helping them achieve their goals. To see them take on the challenge of the things that surly will confront them later in life was the true winning. To not bat an eye while the Devil himself tries to lie, filling heads with doubt and fear not knowing what will happen showed their faith in the good Lord above. All the time they thought it was just a barrel race. The Devil loves deception and God loves disguises. I saw God that night.

Seeing the new riders reminded me of “baby Christians”. In the sense of birth and development the spirit is no different than the physical. We have to be born spiritually just as we are born physically. We can see all around us in nature that things grow, develop and mature in God’s purpose, they have purpose.

Christian Infants often fuss over fairness and the excepted apologies of another. Wrongs they may have suffered, their own personal wants and desires. Paul compares spiritual infancy to worldly behavior .A infant is more concerned with argument than action. Jealously, strife and backstabbing are the occupations of the spiritual baby.

Have you ever watched a baby? They whine and cry over what they can not have, what they must do or not do, or worst yet whine over what they must have. Sometimes Christians act in this matter. It’s easier to pry than pray, accuse than lose, grumble then go and much easier to argue then to act.

A Christian “baby” will only grow as much as he purposefully reads and obeys, then applies the word of God to his or her life. Growth is completely up to the believer. There are Christians who have been saved many years but are still spiritually babies. Like a fat cat in the house, who has to be hand feed the word of God, would not last one week as a barn cat. These fat cat Christians can not understand the deeper truths of the word or the actions and demands of the heavenly Father. What does a “baby Christian” need for growth? The word of God and the truths of the bible. Having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is not a religion, its pure freedom.

                    Remember the rodeo saying “Pain is guaranteed, suffering is up to you.” So, dust yourself off, grow up and get back in the saddle. It’s the only way to get there from here and its one heck of a ride.

                                     We pray with courage and faith that his will be done.

                        .           In the name of our savior Jesus Christ of The Nazarene.

                                                        Cowboy Pastor Ty Nazarenus