Every Longing Heart
Friday, December 19, 2025
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 5:11-6:3, Ephesians 4:11-15
Biologists have had a difficult time defining “life,” but they have settled on an exclusive description of it (meaning that if something possesses all these qualities, it is living, but if it only possesses some, it may not be). One of these defining qualities is development, or growth. If something isn’t growing or developing over time, science does not consider it a living organism. As the human organism grows over time, so should our spiritual condition grow.
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2 NIV)
There is a moment of justification in which we recognize Jesus as Savior. This is the thrust of calls to repent, pray the sinner’s prayer, and “ask Jesus into your heart.” Praise God for His saving work through Jesus, our Savior! Jesus did not call us to just sit in our salvation, though! He called to those who believe, “Follow me!” Followers of Jesus walk, imitate, learn, grow, and mature. A living faith will grow! Jesus spoke life into existence, preserves life by His instruction, eternalizes life by His sacrifice, and matures the life of the believer by His example, teaching, and Spirit.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)
“Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (Timothy 4:15 NIV)
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV)
Have you ever been to a cross-country meet or a marathon during which a runner started to struggle? Often, the runner’s coach or teammate will come run alongside her, just to encourage and revive the determination within her to finish. It is beautiful to watch. The runner is not alone in her weakened state, but her load is lightened by the one running at her side. So do we ever “arrive”? Do we ever reach full spiritual maturity? I have little faith in human efforts by themselves, but I am “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV). Jesus will bring us across the finish line.
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
It can be an arduous journey. Jesus never promised us an easy life on this earth. Sanctification is sometimes really uncomfortable. But our teammates are cheering us on, and our Coach is right at our side.
Here is an excerpt from John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress that can give you strength:
“This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend.
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
Keep walking, pilgrim. Or better yet, run!
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)