As devotionals go, I’m often disappointed in the quality of material that’s available to believers. But one book that has never disappointed me is Charles Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning
“Fiery spirits may dash forward over untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.”
He’s using the image of an army marching forward into battle here. I get down on myself sometimes because I tend to be a slow mover. As a confession, though, I have at times looked down on the “fiery spirits” as well, considering them to be flighty and not well-grounded. That’s wrong of me. The truth that I believe God has shown me today is that the church needs both! We have to have those fiery spirits to blaze new trails, take risks, and win souls to Christ. But we also need the slow movers to keep us grounded in truth, to offer a more thought-out perspective, and to encourage the fiery spirits when they grow weary (blazing new trails can be tiresome). Without both types of believers working together, the church is in serious trouble. I feel a little silly that this has never occurred to me before, but then I guess that’s just because I’m a slow mover. :-) Let me know what you guys think…
P.S. – I don’t think this means that slow movers shouldn’t strive to pull out of their comfort zone a bit and join the fiery spirits in their zeal (or vice versa), I’m just saying that different people tend to have different strengths and weaknesses, and all are needed to grow the kingdom of God…just a little disclaimer there in case anybody thought I was going to use this as an excuse to be lazy. :-)
I am with you on this. I tend to be a slow mover but I admire those who are more fiery. I think those people challenge me to take on their excitement and passion. I also think that they tend to rely on us also. We all balance each other out.
Good Stuff! Wherever you fall, I think we forget the other! The Crazy Jesus Freaks think the Snails move too slow, and those who are Snails, think the freaks are, well, Freaks!! But your right, we need each other to advance the Kingdom. I wonder how the “Worship Wars” would be if churches understood this principle, or any “fight” within the church for that matter!
…when I read the phrase “worship wars” it immediately sent my thoughts to those little light-saber-wielding squirrels in your avatar. I think that’s how we should solve church “fights” from now on…light sabers…and may the best man win.
I agree with Jennie and Dave. The church needs both. Imagine what our world would be like if we were all the same. God has blessed each of us with a talent to further His kingdom. We need to remember to use our talent with His guidance.
Hey! Thanks for always commenting on my blog. I have been trying to leave a comment for you but for some reason it doesn’t let me. Oh well! I love your hair! You are making me want to cut mine off. But you know how long it takes me to decide what to do. You guys are definitely missed. Come see us soon!
Yea, but then you’d need a committee to vote on what color lightsabers the church would use, then vote on what conflict said lightsabers would be used for, then, you’d have a jedi search committee and sith search committee to find two people who’d fight for the church (because no one in the church wants the job) and on it goes! I don’t really know if lightsabers would solve the problem or create a new one!!!! :)
Hey! you should check out Pricilla Shirer’s new study called. Can We Talk?
She gives you a topic for the week and a passage or passages for 5 days of that week and then ways to work through the passages. It’s good. She does not include a lot of commentary or historical information.So you might keep find that you would want a commentary handy. – I like to know more about what I’m reading about so that I know about the context…make sense??
Well anyway…..