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Mastering the basics of horseback riding is similar to mastering the basics of Christianity. It may seem complicated at first; but once you have it figured out, it's not tricky at all. That's when you know it's time to move on to something more challenging.

When you are a Christian, believing is just the beginning. Second Peter 1:5 says to "add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."

Peter gives us a checklist: Okay guys, once you have faith mastered, take a crack at goodness, and when you've got that figured out, try knowledge.

I don't know about you, but I have yet to meet someone who has fully completed Peter's checklist. I certainly will never master it all. But just like training my horses, I will savor every victory in what I can accomplish through Christ.

I will probably never be able to do a headstand on my horse's back while he gallops through a burning hoop, but that doesn't mean that I won't try to get him to slow down his trot this afternoon. Just because I'm never going to win a gold medal in Dressage at the Olympics doesn't mean that I should quit trying to get a little better every day. It's the same with my faith. I will never write a theology of the Bible. I may never do any "tricks" like raising somebody from the dead or surviving a poisonous snake bite, but that doesn't mean that I can't try to grow a little better today.

You may just have the basics of salvation down, and that is wonderful! But never forget that it's just a springboard, just the beginning. Like riding horses, if you only knew what you were missing you would never go back.

More Bible Study Helps
Seabiscuit – FREE! Movie Discussion Guide Use this discussion guide to explore the more spiritual themes of the movie: What is the importance of community? What does it mean to comfort someone? What does endurance look like? Read more.	The God Who Can't Be Tamed Could we be losing more than the land when we destroy it? by Philip Yancey God makes plain how he feels about the animal kingdom in his longest single speech, a magnificent address found at the end of Job. Look closely and you will notice a common thread in the specimens he holds up for Job's edification… Read more.

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