What I've Learned: Idolatry

Since moving to South Africa in January, I have had plenty of opportunity to learn what things I really depend on. I believe, like many of us, I thought that I didn't have any idols in my life. I can honestly say that Suzanne and I don't bow down before any graven images and worship.

But what happens when things get stirred up a bit? What happens when things don't go according to plan?

Suzanne and I took our first trip to Cape Town in July of 2011 to see if it would be a good place for us and to see if the Lord had work here that He would want us to do. I can honestly say, ever since taking that step of faith our lives have never been the same. After spending 10 days here, we returned to Uganda to nothing but turmoil from our staff and a whirlwind of various strange things happening out of the ordinary.

What have I learned from that point until now? I found that I trust myself more than I trust God. I've learned that when something is amiss, I turn to my own talents or knowledge and try to figure things out. Though God has endowed us with a certain amount of wisdom, He is still the one that we must look to for all things. I am slowly making the transition from depending on me when I can't do it to depending on God...period. Not only when I can't do something, but all the time. God wants all of our lives, not just the stuff that we can't do.

Though church planting teaches one many, many things...none is more important than a total and complete reliance on God. It sounds so easy at times "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Matt. 6:25. So don't worry...yeah right! There is such a tendency to look around at our situations and measure them up to our standards and make out plans to get through them. If you are looking to anything but God...it is idolatry! The next logical question is, then what...what are we supposed to do?

First of all, rest and know that God is in complete control. There are no surprises to God. Do you believe that He is sovereign? Do you believe that He has nothing the but the best in store for you? He does! God does not sit around looking for opportunities to smite the very same people He sent His Son to die for.

Second, what are you seeking after? This sounds so basic, but the question is so searching. Are you seeking after the things of the Kingdom or the things of the world? This will tell you where your heart is. Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:33-34 to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That is all!

We can rest knowing that God promised that He will take care of us if we are seeking after Him. I know it is easier to say than to do, but God just wants all of us...every bit.

The gospel doesn't end with salvation...this is where it only begins!

Grace and Peace,

Bob Scott

Know and Grow

As a baby needs milk to grow, so we too as believers need God's Word to mature. The Bible makes several claims that those who call themselves Christians should be attentive to. One such claim is that a clear mark of a saved (Christian) individual is the fact they are growing in knowledge of God, and such things.

Peter talks about this in his second epistle. In verse 5 he says "...giving all diligence, add to your faith..." then in verse 8 he says "For if these things are you and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The exhortation is clear, give all diligence (persistence, attention) to add to your faith. If you are a believer, you should be adding to your faith. Not in a legalistic way hoping to earn something in return, but in response to the love and grace that God, through Jesus, has shown you. You should be growing in your walk with the Lord.

He then goes on to say that if we are diligent to know these things, we will not be barren nor unfruitful in our knowledge of the Lord. God wants us to know as much about Him as we can! God wants us to be fruitful in the works that He has planned for us. We will only know the works He has for us by learning more and more about Him.

I encourage you to take a quick look and see where you were 5 or 10 years ago with the Lord. Have you grown? Did you make some foolish mistakes back then that you are not making today? That is actually good...that means that you are growing! We start with the milk of the Word and then God moves us onto the meat. He has such wonderful things for us that He has already planned out and waits for us to walk in them.

Pray...Read your bible...Fellowship with other believers...

Grace and Peace,

Bob, Suzanne and Bobby Scott