Psalm 1 envisions the Christian life as a fruitful tree. This big ol’ fig tree, planted in an ideal spot, soaking up the fresh water of life, with a steady leaf and regular seasonal fruiting.

You are reading your Bible. You are faithful on Sundays. You are praying for your family, friends, and neighbors. You are concocting holy-adventures.

Sometimes we get to thinking that "getting saved" and "Christian living" are two separate things.

How do you know when your faith is strong? When your discipleship is healthy? When you’re growing in Christlikeness? When you’re in-step with the Spirit? How do you know that you’re getting the point? That you’re on the trail and keeping straight?

How do we keep going so we keep growing? We want to go on; we want to get “there.” We want to see our faith become love; we want to supplement our faith however we must. We want to keep growing. So how do we keep going so we keep growing?

You’re a caring person. You care. You’re a Christian—the heart of Jesus is beating in your heart.

The fact that God “elects” people to be saved—chooses, predestines, calls—is clearly taught in Scripture. But that doesn’t mean we like it.

How does the disciple’s journey begin? By “walking not.” In other words, discipleship begins with a refusal.

The greatest danger is the one described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13: that we could do great works that look like love, but have no love in them. That we sing and give and serve, but without love.

Peter’s example of a disciple’s journey—from faith to knowledge, to self-control, and on and on—turns in an interesting direction: “supplement your steadfastness with godliness.” (2Pet 1:6) This might be confusing because, after all, isn’t all this stuff “godliness”?