By Youval Yanay

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!'” – Mark 9:24

Wait a minute, does he believe or not? Even those who believe with all their heart have a place to grow. In the Kingdom of God, grace, love, and our potential for personal growth are endless. Whether in times of abundance and peace, scarcity and adversity, our hearts cry out, “Lord, help my unbelief!” This is a state of the heart, a place of humility and surrender to the plan of God for my life. It doesn’t matter my state or where I am in my life on this earth – God calls me to come before Him and ask for more. 

“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:1

The community in Thessalonica stood as a beacon of faith, an inspiration to all:

“For you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

They were steadfast on their journey with the Lord, but Paul implored them to go even further.  Yes, your faith is an example, everyone heard good reports about you and learned from you, but please don’t stop there. 

As a follower of Yeshua, a disciple who walks in the ways of the Lord, there is always a place for more. Another step towards sanctification and change. Sanctification is a process of inner change to be conformed to the image of Yeshua. 

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” – Romans 8:29

From the moment we are born again, we embark on a journey of change, where we leave behind our old identity, “the old man”, and step by step, from glory to glory, are molded into the image of Yeshua. This is sanctification.   

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18

With much love and tenderness, the Word of God asks and implores us, please don’t forget the process, don’t stop the journey, with the purpose we have as sons and daughters of God to resemble the Lord, reflect His image, and to be the sons of God within this creation. This purpose gives meaning to everything we go through in this life, nothing is lost when we submit to the Lord.

 

If I go through a difficult time and don’t understand what God wants from me and why he allows this to happen – I surrender, holding on to the faith that I have, faith that He is good and always loves, and ask Him to help me to grow and to change for the better.    

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 

Faith and surrender pave the way for God’s Word to flourish within us. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” – John 15:8

Even if our faith appears commendable, even if we serve as an example to others, we must never stop. In our journey with Jesus, there’s always room for spiritual growth, it’s always possible to go a little bit further, to delve deeper, to draw nearer, to change, to shed undesirable behaviors and habits, and grow in holiness.  Emulating Him means there’s always another summit to scale.

A true believer in Jesus never rests on past achievements but constantly aspires for more, knowing that in life with Jesus, there’s always more awaiting.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14