Growing in Christ #5

Our relationship with God in Christ is a growing relationship. The Bible admonishes us to, “Grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 In order to help or be involved in growing spiritually several things are needed. This list is certainly not inclusive, but I do pray will be a motivation for you to grow.

1. Gain understanding of your position in Christ. The first two chapters of Ephesians are especially helpful for this understanding. You died with Christ on the cross and arose with Him in the resurrection and stand in His grace.

2. Grow in your love for God’s word. The Bible is an amazing instruction book for life. Through its words you can gain knowledge, be reproved or correcting and receive training for a life of righteousness. The end result is that you will be ready for the life that pleases God.

3. Act on the spiritual disciplines. You are no doubt spending time in prayer, Bible study, worship, service, worship, and ministry. You may even be fasting, spending time in solitude with God and other areas of spiritual discipline. May I suggest you also practice the disciplines of humility and brokenness, submission and surrender. God’s Holy Spirit must be in control
of our lives for spiritual growth to occur. Yieldedness to Him is a necessary spiritual discipline.

4. Allow God to conform you to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 Paul says that God determined ahead of time that we should be conformed to the image of Christ. If being like Jesus is important to our spiritual growth then only as we yield to Him can that happen. It is not “what would Jesus do” and then try to do it. We yield to Christ and He works in and through us. Growth is not action as much as it is conformity brought about by surrender.

5. The last area of growth is our dependence on one another. We need to embrace the body of Christ. Each of us is a part of His body by new birth. Over 30 times in the New Testament the Bible speaks of “one another.” Whether it is love, serve, forgive, encourage, exhort, admonish or submit to one another it is obvious that we are not in this Christian life alone. We need one another. Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ includes growing together. Embracing the fellow believers God places in our lives is a vital aspect of spiritual growth.

I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Chris