Steady!

Yesterday, my theme was 'Ready?' Today, it is 'Steady!' You might guess what tomorrow might be about.

As the racers are getting ready to launch themselves into their activity, there has to be a pause, when they learn to be steady. Many a false start has happened when the over-eager start too soon. Their aim is to get some advantage over their fellow competitors, but they may end up being disqualified altogether. Even the mighty Usain Bolt suffered that indignity.

So, being steady, before activity is essential.

The Bible makes this message very clear.

In Psalm 1, the contrast between the faithful righteous and the rootless wicked in made plain. 

Those who don't bother with God are described: They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. (Psalm 1.4)

By contrast, those who choose be close to God are stable and steady. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. (Psalm 1.3)

The contrast is obvious, and it all comes back to having deep and nourished roots, which draw up the life of God into our own weak & feeble lives. 'they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. (Psalm 1.2)

St. Paul describes what we should be like, if we are deeply rooted and steady in our Christian lives. I find it to be a most challenging image.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.' (Ephesians 4.14-16)

Steady Christians are stable and fruitful Christians, not easily swayed and diverted by apparently new ideas. We all have a part to play in helping this process to develop.
Best wishes,

Richard