Out of the Passenger Seat

I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 
1 John 2:14 (ESV)

What is the first real taste of freedom you get as a young person?

When you turn old enough to drive a car, you finally sit behind the wheel with no one else in it. No parent is in the passenger seat, and no one is supervising. It’s just you and the open road. It is one of the most thrilling feelings in the world. That day, you go from being watched to being trusted, from dependent to dependable.                                                                                                                                                                                                    That is exactly what happens spiritually too. “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14, ESV). What is the mark of a young person? They want in on the action; they want to get into the fight. A spiritual young person feeds on the Word of God so they can overcome the devil, the world, the flesh, defeating temptation in their life.

Spiritually speaking, the only way you make that move is by getting into the Word of God yourself. You cannot stay in the passenger seat of someone else’s Bible reading forever. Those who want to grow read their Bibles. Those who do not spend time in the Word do not grow.

You cannot mature on one 35-minute sermon a week. You would never survive on one meal a week either. You need the Word of God every day, the same way you need food every day.

If spiritual maturity is going to be a goal in your life, then Bible study must become a priority in your life. Take five minutes today and open your Bible instead of your phone. 

You did not stay 16 forever behind that wheel. You got more confident and more capable the more you drove. Get in the Word today and every day, and a year from now you’ll be surprised how far you’ve come.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that is living and active. Forgive me for the times I skip out on hearing from You because I think I’m too busy. Give me the discipline to open Your Word tonight and tomorrow and the day after that. I want to mature, not just get older. In Jesus’ name, Amen.