Pilgrim’s Progress | Dale Tedder

Archive for the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ Category

Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 1

Posted in Pilgrim's Progress, tagged Pilgrim's Progress on July 22, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Continuing in Christ: The Pilgrim’s Progress

Posted in Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Pilgrim's Progress, Sanctification, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Formation, tagged Dale Tedder, Discipleship, Perseverance, Pilgrim's Progress, Sanctification, Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Formation on July 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Colossians 2:6

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

We start off so well. With great gratitude and enthusiasm we bow before the throne of our King. Upon placing our trust in Christ alone – “receiving” him – we take on the world in his name.

But motivation and inspiration can wane. That which is not a habit or done out of obedient self-discipline, very often, will not be sustained for the long haul. That is why church history is littered with travelers who fell by the wayside on the narrow road to the celestial city.

Thus, Paul exhorts us to “continue to live in him.” This is much more than simple encouragement to attend church and have your quiet time (both of which are good). Paul is saying that we are to persevere in self-discipline and faithfulness. But more than that, he’s declaring that our very power source is our Lord himself. He is our power, our foundation, our anchor, our compass, our all in all. Jesus is not to be sprinkled on our lives to add a little flavor to an already okay meal. He is to be our life. We died with him in his crucifixion and were raised with him in his resurrection. The life we now live we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.

I love the following supporting language that Paul uses to undergird his thesis. He adds that we are to be “rooted and built up in him.”

Jesus is the root system of the mighty oak tree. He is our vine. Apart from him, he tells us, we can do nothing. If we would bear fruit, he must be our root. For it is only then that he will bear fruit through us.

Changing our imagery once again, Jesus is our chief cornerstone and we are to be built up in him. He is our only sure foundation. All else is shifting sand. And if we are not built up in him, not only will we not bear fruit, but we will also crumble during the storms of life.

And so be encouraged this week. You have the greatest resource at God’s disposal to enable you to bear much good and lasting fruit in your life – Christ Jesus our Lord and the power of his Spirit. Without him, you cannot do anything. With him, all things are possible.

Grace and Truth,
Dale

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Prayer for this Lord’s Day (for those on pilgrimage)

Posted in Pilgrim's Progress, Prayer for Today, tagged Prayer for Pilgrimage, Prayer for this Lord's Day on July 24, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Psalm 84:5 - Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

O God, age after age the living seek thee, and find that of thy faithfulness there is no end. Our fathers in their pilgrimage walked by thy guidance, and rested on thy compassion: still to their children be thou the cloud by day, the fire by night. O thou sole source of peace and righteousness! take now the veil from every heart; and join us in one communion with thy prophets and saints who have trusted in thee, and were not ashamed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Taken from The Book of Worship for Church and Home of The Methodist Church, 1965

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