Because justification answers the question on how guilty sinners can find acceptance with God, it belongs to the heart of the Christian gospel and is a central theme in the writings of the apostle Paul.
Cornelis P. Venema, Getting the Gospel Right
A Slice of Fresh Bread
Walking through a field near our home, I encountered long, shiny, slightly used snakeskin. My curiosity sent me to the internet where I discovered snakes shed their skins 4-8 times a year. Unlike humans who discard skin one cell at a time, snakes jettison their skins all at once.
Snakes wiggle out of their skin to accommodate their body’s growth. The skin becomes too tight for their expanding bones and muscle so it must be left behind so that growth can take place. Once the old, limiting skin is abandoned the snake can grow to the next level.
If we want to grow we may have to leave some things behind. Paul tells the Church at Colossi, “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”.
To become more like Christ we have to rid ourselves of things that limit our growth and development. Camp often provides the place for campers to shed the past and start to grow. Young snakes shed their skins several times a year but adult snakes may only slither out of theirs once a year. But from time to time they too must rid themselves of the things that hold back their growth.
Young or old we need to check what is holding us back, rid ourselves of those limiting issues and grow to the next level that God has in store for us.
Prayer Requests
- CCI-Philippines is holding a one-day national conference June 12th. Please pray for good attendance, unity among the members and effective teaching.
- Please pray for the relationships that are developing between Christian camping leaders in France. There are many excellent Christian camping ministries in France but there is not yet a formal association in that country.
- Some summer camps are underway in North America. Please pray for safety and effective ministry.
- Australia will hold it’s national conference the first week in August. Please pray for the staff and volunteers preparing for this major conference.
- CCI-Worldwide still needs about $30,000 to end the year in the black. Please pray for the funding needed to sustain this ministry.