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| Image from Navigators.ca |
Dawson
Trotman, evangelist and founder of The
Navigators, (a Christian discipleship organization), wanted to help the
Sunday school classes and boys' clubs that he led to better understand living the
Christian life. Trotman used the illustration of a wheel to explain the
critical areas Christians need to concentrate on. I have found this to be an incredibly useful tool in my own
spiritual life and wanted to share it with you.
Let’s look first
at the center, the hub. The hub is the main support for a wheel. It allows the
wheel to spin freely while keeping it attached to the vehicle. For us, Jesus must be at the Center, the hub of
our lives.
According to Philippians
4:13, when Jesus is our source of strength, we can do all things. We can face
whatever may come our way. Making Jesus the “hub” of our lives means "keeping
our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end." (Hebrews 12:2)
The outer edge of
a wheel, the rim, helps the wheel retain the shape of the hub. For Christians, obedience to God forms the rim of our
spiritual wheel. Romans 12:2 cautions us to conform to God, not the world. Obeying
what Jesus says shapes and molds us spiritually.
On vehicles like
bicycles or wagons, spokes radiate from the center of each wheel, connecting
the hub with the rim. These rods transfer power from the hub to the rim. In our
walk with Jesus there are four spokes that serve as conductors of His power. There is a direct correlation between the strength of these
connectors and our power to obey.
1.
The Word of God is one spoke on our
spiritual growth wheel. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says all "Scripture is inspired by God
and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and
giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be
fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed."
Reading
and meditating on God's Word is essential for obedience and moving forward on
our journey with Jesus.
2.
Another spoke is prayer. In
Philippians 4:6 we are urged to pray about everything. When we share our heart
with Jesus, God’s power is released. As we talk one on one with God, we grow
closer to Him.
3. The spoke of fellowship helps us
to build each other up as Christians. Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes us to gather
together to encourage one another. Proverbs 27:17 notes “As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.” By fellowshipping with other Christians, we can hold one another accountable and thus grow
as Christians.
4.
Matthew 28:19 sets forth our God-given responsibility to tell the world about forgiveness
through Jesus. How does sharing this spectacular news with others help us grow
as a Christian? Witnessing reminds
us of what Jesus did for us. Sharing the Good News with others helps hold us to the task
of living out our faith.
Keeping up these
four avenues for Christian growth isn’t easy. Sometimes we get a little lax in
one area or another. What happens to a bicycle wheel if one of the spokes is
broken? It causes a flat area on the rim and the tire wears out more quickly. It
also affects the ride, making it wobbly and uneven. When we are missing one of
the spiritual spokes that connect us with Jesus, our Christian life will be
just as bumpy and unsteady as that bike ride.
Where is the Holy
Spirit in this illustration? When asked, Trotman answered that the Holy Spirit
was woven throughout, and absolutely necessary for us to reap the full benefits of each component
of The Wheel.
With the aid of
the Holy Spirit, each of the different parts of our spiritual wheel can work
properly together to move us forward in our walk with Jesus. We grow as a
Christian and God is able to use us to encourage others both to believe in Jesus
for themselves and to allow God to work in their lives.
Are you serious
about living out your faith in obedience? Is there a weak spoke in your
spiritual wheel? What steps can you take to strengthen that connection to Jesus
and move forward on your journey with Him?
Blessings!
Pam©2014 Pamela D. Williams
