(The following is the May 26 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Acts 15 and pay close attention to verse 36.)

Being a Christian is not only about the moment one comes to Christ. Of course, we can’t continue in a faith we haven’t yet experienced, but the Christian life begins – not ends – with salvation. The birth of a baby is a critical moment, but nobody would claim that to be the end of the child’s story. So it is with being a disciple of Christ.

God used Paul and Barnabas to bring many others to the faith. It might have been easy for them to see their work with individuals as complete once hearers repented and placed their trust in Jesus, but they did not. They knew more work was needed to teach and encourage new believers to grow in their relationship with Jesus and obedience to him. That’s why Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing” (v. 36).

We learn two things from their example. First, we have much room for growth in our Christian lives. We can’t be satisfied with previous experiences when pondering our Christian walk. The highlight of a believer’s earthly life should always be in the present or future – never past. No matter where we are on our spiritual journey, we are not yet at the finish line of being the Christlike people God wants us to be. The race isn’t over.

Second, we learn from Paul and Barnabas that we should stay invested in the lives of other believers as teachers, mentors, friends, examples, and encouragers. If we love fellow Christians, we will take great pleasure in helping them grow in the Lord. Like Paul and Barnabas, we’ll want to “see how they’re doing.”  

Next Step:
How have you grown as a Christian since becoming a believer? In what ways do you still need to mature? Who can help you in those areas? Who can you help and encourage in their Christian growth?