I received an email from a group asking for money. Its subject line was, “Progress Doesn’t Just Happen on Its Own.” The email originator is an organization seeking people to donate for a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.
When I get emails with great “subject lines” I often think about the people who are developing those clever “subject lines” that capture the attention of readers. After all, most people receive a lot of emails asking for them to donate or to buy something. An organization needs something that stands out so people will at least open their request.
“Progress doesn’t just happen on its own” grabbed my attention, but probably not in the way the originator hoped. It immediately drew my attention to our spiritual walk.
I’ve been saved for almost 50 years, and a pastor for much of that time. In those years, I’ve known a lot of people who think that just because they are saved, they’re done. They’ve made no, or very little progress since the day they’ve accepted Christ Jesus as Savior. They’ve certainly not made Him LORD of their life. (I’ve probably spent some time with that same attitude in my 50 years.)
I’ve come to realize, however, that if we want to progress in our Christian walk, it’s going to take effort. Peter urges us to “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” [2 Peter 3:18 NIV]
The Holy Spirit’s work in us is to enable us, give us the power to progress in our walk, to become like our Savior and LORD as best we can in this life. We must cooperate with His urgings and direction. We must appropriate His power. It begins with acknowledging that “progress doesn’t just happen on its own,” but will requires work on our part as well.