“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

One of the things our staff and elders hear from me often is the saying, “Facts are our friends. You cannot build a desirable future based on wishful thinking. You can only build your desirable future based on facts.”

Facts are neither good nor bad – even though some facts may feel that way. For instance, “You’re fat.” That feels bad. But it is what it is. It’s a fact. “You’re 58 years old? You don’t look at day over 40!” That feels good. But it is what it is.

If you want to grow up in your faith and spiritual maturity, you cannot do it apart from God’s facts. You cannot base your desirable future based on what you wish, what you want, what the world thinks, what everyone says is important. You can only build it based on facts.

Jesus said it himself, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

If you want to grow, that you go to a Bible preaching church, that you are a part of a Bible studying group, and that you spend daily time with God’s truth is basic. This is the foundation upon which you build your spiritual maturity.

Here is a fact: just because you read your Bible every day, and you study the Bible with others, and you go to church every week to hear a Bible based sermon does not equal spiritual maturity or growth.

AND: if you are not reading your Bible every day, studying the Bible with others, and go to a Bible preaching church, I can GUARANTEE you are NOT GROWING.

Facts are our friends. You cannot build a desirable future based on wishful thinking. You can only do so based on facts.

Get into God’s word. Without God’s word, you CANNOT grow. That’s a fact!

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23).

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you” (Deuteronomy 6:12).

If God is God, God is to be worshiped.

If you are a follower of God, you worship God.

This is not a conditional statement. This is a fact. Worshiping God is what you do if you are a Christian. If you do not worship God, and keep the Sabbath day holy, you are not a Christian.

Worship is not one of the many options we have for the weekend. Worship is a non-negotiable command of the creator of the universe.

We worship, not because God needs our worship, but because we need to worship. Worship is the one thing we do on a weekly basis that reminds us who we are because of who God is. There are so many things that get our attention. And when we do not worship on a regular basis, we become focused on the world around us. And we forget that God is God. We forget that God is sovereign. That all of history is marching toward God’s will. Nothing happening in the world is outside God’s will and control.

We need a time once a week where we encounter the holy, living, sovereign, almighty God. We need to be reminded of God’s sovereign will. We need to recalibrate our minds, thoughts, hearts, and ourselves to remember who God is. It is only as we see God that we can begin to see everything else in its proper perspective.

Not only will you not grow as a Christian if you do not make worship a non-negotiable command of God, you simply are not a follower of God.

The best way is to show up in God’s house to worship God on Sunday mornings. There is nothing like gathering with the worshiping community. If that is not possible, you can worship online. It is available every week on our web page and on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@lcoplg

To get growing get consistent with worship.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” ( 1 Corinthians 9:24).

This week, we will be looking at some things that aid in spiritual growth.

The singular trait that will help you grow and mature in your faith is consistency.

Many of us have been on diets, exercise programs, reading programs. Many of us have learned how to play an instrument. What makes the difference in any of these in terms of the outcome?

Consistency.

Most plans – exercise, diets, reading plans, perfecting an instrument – are good plans. The problem is not the plan.

Plans work when you work the plan. That’s the key. Plans work only work if you work the plan. Not once. Not for a day. Not for a week. But for life!

The most important phrase in today’s verse of the day is “in such a way.” Don’t just run. Don’t just go through life. Don’t just do church. Run “in such a way” as to win the prize.

How do you run “in such a way”? Get a plan. Stick to it. Every day. For the rest of your life.

What will make the biggest difference in your spiritual journey? Get a plan and stick to it.

Consistency. The first key to spiritual growth and maturity.