Light of the World Church: Stroudsburg, PA

The Basics

Posted On Thursday February 2nd, 2012 by Pastor Angelo Pierri

Every once in a while, I get to play guitar and lead Praise and Worship. I’m not the best singer so I tell the others to sing “loudly” -- then I don’t sound so bad. However, I am a gifted guitar player and have been playing since I was 10 years old. Over the years I have become quite proficient at it and enjoy giving my gift back to God in Praise and Worship. 

But I did not start out being proficient on the guitar. Quite the contrary, I remember quitting several times out of frustration because I just was not getting it. I kept coming back to it though, and learned that if I was going to be successful at the guitar, I had to stick with it and make sure I got the basics down before I went on to the harder parts of music. I spent so much time learning and playing scales, practicing basic chords over and over again, learning to read the notes, placing my fingers on the frets where certain notes were and becoming familiar with the strings and hand positions, coordinating my left hand with my right hand, and hearing my teacher say time and time again, “tap your foot to stay in time!” It took much practice, but eventually I became very good at it and God has used the guitar in my life in so many beautiful ways. 

It is much the same with the things of God. Before we can go on to the deeper things of God, we must make sure we have the basics down first. Trying to do other things before we are ready can be a tragic mistake…for us and others. 

It says in Hebrews 6:1 that we need to know the basics of Christianity before we can go on to maturity. That is certainly wise and true. How are you doing with the basics of your walk with Christ? For example, to what extent do you believe He loves you…not just in your mind, but in your heart? How are you doing at receiving the love of God? Is your faith rooted and grounded in His love for you? Do you receive His love freely without having to do something for it? Are you trying to earn His love by some kind of effort on your part? Are you resisting His love because you see your failures and sins? When you know that you know how much He loves you and have let that love fill and embrace your heart, you will be able to stand in the face of life’s storms no matter how great the wind blows or the seas rage. Deep down you know His love will hold you and never let you go…no matter what! 

Today, read Romans 8:31-39…and read it every day this month! Let it become the foundation of your walk with Christ. Before you go on to so many other principles in the things of God, get the basics down about His love for you. Get it deep in your heart. What a house of faith He will build in your life, a house set on a foundation, sure and true, that will hold you all the way into eternity. It will change your life!