Call to Nurture

In a world that celebrates independence and self-sufficiency, there's a counter-cultural truth that challenges our modern sensibilities: we are called to be nurtured by God and to nurture others. This isn't the soft, coddling kind of nurture we might initially imagine—it's something far more transformative and powerful.

When we hear the word "nurture," many of us picture a mother gently cradling her newborn, providing comfort and warmth. While that image captures one aspect of nurture, the biblical concept goes much deeper. The Greek word paideia, translated as "nurture" in Scripture, encompasses training, instruction, discipline, and the development of moral and spiritual character.

This is the kind of nurture that shapes disciples, not just dependents. It's the process of developing and growing through training and nourishment—a deliberate, intentional investment in someone's spiritual formation.

Hebrews 12 provides a profound framework for understanding God's nurturing process. The passage reminds us that "the Lord's training of your life is the evidence of His faithful love." This is a revolutionary perspective on correction and discipline. When God corrects us, He's not being harsh or punitive—He's demonstrating His deep, abiding love.

Think about it: parents who truly love their children don't allow them to wander into danger or develop destructive habits. They guide, correct, and train because they want the best for their children. Similarly, God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share in His holiness.

The alternative is sobering: "For if we have never once endured His correction, it only proves we are strangers and not sons." God's discipline validates our authentic relationship with Him.

Biblical nurture follows a progression that moves from gentle instruction to more direct intervention when necessary:

1. Nurture and Instruction - The foundational teaching that shows us God's ways
2. Training - The repeated practice that builds spiritual muscle
3. Developing Discipline - The formation of godly habits and character
4. Rebuke - Correction through words when we begin to stray
5. Chastening - More significant intervention when needed

This isn't about punishment—it's about transformation of character. And here's the beautiful truth: "Later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it."

There's an urgency to this message. God has been speaking clearly: "My people are not living My way." This isn't a casual observation—it's a warning. Something is coming, and those who are not walking in God's ways will face unnecessary struggle and loss. But those who submit to His nurturing process, who allow Him to train and correct them, will navigate whatever comes with divine protection and provision.

The warning extends to three critical areas:

• How we handle money - Are we dependent on God or on our own resources?
• Living in peace with God - Are we conformed to His image and aligned with His will?
• Nurturing others - Are we investing in the spiritual development of those around us?

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of this message is the call away from independence toward dependence on God. American culture breeds self-reliance, but Scripture presents a different paradigm: "anything we do not dependent on Him, therefore, independence is sin."

This doesn't mean we become passive or irresponsible. Rather, it means we recognize that every breath, every ability, every resource comes from Him. We learn to say, "Here I am, Lord. Have some joy. Enjoy Yourself. Bring some corrections so You can bless me at the next level."

This transformative process isn't meant to happen in isolation. We need people in our lives who have permission to speak truth to us, to bring correction, to help us stay on track. But this only works within the context of relationship and with explicit permission.

You can't just appoint yourself as the "word police" in someone's life. But when relationship exists and permission is granted—when someone asks you a question or invites your input—that's your opportunity to nurture them toward spiritual maturity.

The church community becomes a training ground where we practice this mutual nurturing. We celebrate when someone grows. We gently correct when someone strays. We encourage when someone struggles. We're not rule-keepers; we're character-builders, helping each other become more like Jesus.

Revelation 3 issues a sobering warning to the lukewarm church: "I know all that you do. I know all that you are. I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion."
It's easy to be a casual Christian—showing up occasionally, giving a little, believing the basics. But God calls us to something far more demanding and infinitely more rewarding. He says, "All those I dearly love, I unmask and train. So repent and be eager to pursue what is right."

The promise for those who respond is staggering: "To the one who conquers, I will give the privilege of sitting with Me on My throne." God wants to share everything He has and everything He is with us—but getting to that place requires submission to His nurturing process.

The question before each of us is simple but profound: Will we submit to God's nurturing? Will we allow Him to instruct, train, discipline, and correct us? Will we position ourselves to receive from Him daily?

This requires:

• Humility - Acknowledging we don't have it all figured out
• Courage - Being willing to face uncomfortable truths about ourselves
• Consistency - Making this a daily practice, not a one-time decision
• Community - Surrounding ourselves with people who can speak into our lives

The harvest is coming. God is preparing His people for something new, something different from what we're used to. But we're not ready yet—not because God hasn't provided what we need, but because we haven't fully embraced the nurturing process He's inviting us into.

"Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

The path to spiritual maturity, to becoming the people God created us to be, goes straight through the middle of His nurturing process. Yes, there will be pain—growth always involves discomfort. But the gain far outweighs the pain.

So today, make the choice: "Here I am, Lord. Get me ready. Prepare me. Change me into another person. Make me Your voice, Your hands, Your feet, Your sent one."
The grace is already available. The invitation is already extended. All that remains is our response.