The week’s memory work is Philippians 3:13-14

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.

Write out the memory work using a separate notecard for each word. Shuffle the notecards and work to place the cards in the correct order. Keep the notecards and use them to practice the Scripture throughout the week. Fruit-bearing in God’s kingdom often requires much work before we see significant results. Depth is the place in the journey where we begin to see God’s fruit.

Romans 6:21-23 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In depth, we gradually begin thinking, feeling, and acting like Jesus. We begin living out our status as God’s children and our destiny in Him.

In C.S. Lewis’ essay “The Weight of Glory,” preached as a sermon in England in 1942 he writes:

Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

(https://www.wheelersburg.net/Downloads/Lewis%20 Glory.pdf)

Depth calls us to move away from the places where we once found satisfaction, looking to experience God more and more. What might you be settling for instead of pursuing a relationship with God?

Pursuing God in the depth of a relationship with Him, and as we partner with Him, we will seek the Holy Spirit at work in us producing fruit. It is vital to remember that we should not attempt to produce righteousness through our efforts in depth. If we believe we will think, feel, and act like Jesus only by our actions, we will put energy toward trying harder rather than living in reliance on God’s strength. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance in your life to know and become like Jesus? Be encouraged! This is depth!

Pray: Heavenly Father, during this time of Renewal, please give me eyes to see how I am already partnering in a relationship with You to experience change and spiritual growth.