Bonsai Christians
When you look at a Bonsai Tree, it is absolutely amazing, in every minute detail it is an absolutely perfect tree for its breed, and age, whether a few years old or even if it is many hundreds of years old, even a Cedar that is centimetres tall and not many meters tall, they are perfect in every way, well that is, until you put them beside the “Real Deal” and then you discover that they are a “Miniature” or a midget when compared to the full grown and normal sized edition.
A Baby, is a fully developed and functioning “Human Being,” but again, it is in the miniature sizing, a sort of Bonsai Human, they have yet to grow up to the full stature and maturity of an adult. Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Ephesians 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” 1 Peter 2:1-2 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” James 1:22-25 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Hebrews 5:11-14 “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing {Bonsai}. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Well, how big are you? Oh Really!! How big am I?? Are we still milk fed Babies, needing to be Nursed in “The Word” continually, or are we “Walking in the Spirit” and are “Giants” and devouring Scripture, strong in the words of life and Truth, “Strong Meat” and powered by “The Meat of the Word” which is “Jesus Christ?” Are you into “Steak Sandwiches” or “Pureed Mush,” are you a “Bonsai Christian” just a miniature and still on minimal baby food, or are you bounding from strength to strength on “Power Food?” 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So; how much “Study” do you do Daily? John 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:58 “This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.”
Quote; “You who are waiting in idle expectation that God will perform some wonderful miracle to enlighten the world in regard to the truth, I want to ask you if you have employed the means that God has provided for the advancement of his cause? You who pray for light and truth from heaven, have you studied the Scriptures? Have you desired “the sincere milk of the word,” that you may grow thereby? Have you submitted yourselves to the revealed command? “Thou shalt,” and “thou shall not,” are definite requirements, and there is no place for idleness in the Christian life. You who mourn your spiritual dearth, do you seek to know and to do the will of God? Are you striving to enter in at the straight gate? There is work, earnest work, to be done for the Master. The evils condemned in God’s word, must be overcome. You must individually battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit,” and you should become skilful in its use, if you would cut your way through the hosts of opposition and darkness.” {CE 116}
Quote; “But let labourers have discretion and not give strong meat to those who are babes; feed them with the sincere milk of the Word. In no case mingle your own spirit and ideas with the truth and cover up the precepts of God by traditions or suppositions. Let the people have the truth as it is in Jesus. {Ev 252} Quote; “We are to see and understand the instruction given us by the great apostle, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby,” in perception, in likeness to the character of Christ. Development of character, growth in knowledge and wisdom, will be the sure result of feeding on the word.” {MM 124}
Dear Reader; Are you a “Bonsai Christian?” Maybe it is past time that we all were “Walking in the Spirit,” deep in Scripture, dynamic and powerful in prayer and deeds, measuring up to the fullness of Heaven, and no longer a “Bonsai Miniature.”
