Just as I Am!
When you think about this phrase, what comes to mind? For many it’s the hymn or the song. However, as we dig a little deeper what comes to mind? If you’re like most, this phrase causes one to think about acceptance, and that acceptance isn’t invalidated based on present state, status, or situation. In fact, even with respect to our Savior, He too says to come as you are: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV). Yes, we see an unconditional acceptance. Yet, if we continue the verses, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me” – Matthew 11:29a (NIV), we see there’s an expectation of growth also.
This shouldn’t be surprising, for we too expect growth in things we’ve invested in. Whether it’s a health club membership, stock, savings account, business, home, relationship, or our children; we expect maturation. We wouldn’t put our children in kindergarten and expect them to be at that same developmental stage some 10-15 years later? So why are we satisfied and even content with that type of return when it comes to our Christian development?
Too many have the testimony of being a Christian; excuse me. Should I say too many have the testimony of being a Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, COGIC, or Word of Faith, and do not have a grasp of the fundamentals of Christianity. Some are still stumbling over the 1,3,2 and the b,a,c’s. I’m not being critical of these entities, only the individuals who willfully choose not to grow. Therefore, I challenge you not to remain “just as you came”, but to be intentional about growing in the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God:
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” – Matthew 25:26-30 (NLT).
