Some people go through their entire life never experiencing the work and transformation that can be done on the inside.  You must take personal responsibility for your Christian development, no one else is going to.  Begin to step up and become more proactive in your walk with the Lord.  That is going to require more than just reading a few verses of scripture every day. You must make practical application of what you read.  Change begins on the inside first.

I’m really going to date myself here.  Remember that Star Trek episode where Kirk got into a parallel universe and there was a “bad” Kirk.  It seemed that the “bad” Kirk had all the bad qualities that were suppressed in the good guy. The good guy; that’s the one that everyone knows in church, at the school functions, shows up for the softball games.

Why is it that we live with this other person, content to co-exist, as if we are in two parallel universes?  We can be perfect when we have to, when we are expected to, but then just as quickly we can be tacky, mean spirited, selfish and unkind. Letting both personalities act out in our lives.

We will not grow into healthy, overcoming, mature Christians until we are willing to own up to the truth: there is no parallel universe, it’s just you, the whole you.

The Apostle James has this to say about it.   “Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”  James 3:11,12

We can look pretty good to ourselves when we aren’t willing to take in the whole picture; the whole you.  It’s time to do something about this.  We aren’t just hurting ourselves by staying infantile, we are damaging others around us.  We are hurting the cause of Christ.

I am convinced that unless we are willing to commit to growing good fruit in our lives and actively pursue developing a healthy spiritual condition we will continue to live in failure after failure.

What does the Bible say we should be developing?

Galatians 5: 22-26 

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Fruit of the Spirit must be cultivated and developed in our lives.  It won’t grow by itself.  Weeds grow by themselves.  An undisciplined mind will never produce healthy spiritual fruit.  You must first make a decision. Next you must commit to your decision, then you must execute your plan.  Purposeful.  I am learning the importance of being intentional and purposeful in my actions.  Don’t be content to stay living in the parallel universe; it isn’t real, it’s a cop out!   You can become whole.  Decide today.  Be purposeful and intentional in your spiritual journey.  Start by spending some quite time with the Lord.  Grab what you can, a couple of minutes here, three minutes there. Maybe you have some time to meditate when you are driving home from work.  Be intentional.  Ask God to help you in the areas that you have weaknesses.  He will.