Growth

We all want spiritual growth in our lives. We go about it in different ways with mixed success. I am teaching on this subject for a few weeks and wanted to revisit it as it relates to “how” we grow. There are three keys points I want to make that help us understand what growth in Christ really means.

First, I love this quote about growth - “Healthy things grow and growing things change.” Notice that it all begins with health. A good lesson for us here is that our sights should not be set on growth, they should be set on health - spiritual health. If we are healthy, we will grow. And if we grow, we will see change. Our focus needs to be on health.

Secondly, we must realize that growth is not a destination - a place where we will arrive. Growth is a direction - a trajectory. If we combine this thought with our first point, it’s a healthy trajectory in our faith journey.

Lastly, let’s see what the Bible tells us about growth:

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter instructs us to grow both “in grace” and “in knowledge” of Jesus. Growing in grace means that we will become more Christlike. Others will see in us more of the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace…) than the sins of the flesh (anger, envy, lust, sins of the tongue.) We won’t be perfect but that healthy trajectory will be evident to those around us.

Growing “in knowledge” speaks to a greater understanding of His Word, works and ways. This knowledge helps fuel our growth “in grace” as we seek to be imitators of Him.

True growth is centered in relational time with Jesus. Behavior management, sharper theology and better worship experiences are all great things but they are all moreso the results of a closer walk with Jesus than the path to get us there.

We have a call to holiness as followers of Christ. Holiness comes through growth. We should remember that holiness is not the path to Christ but Christ is the path to holiness.

Stay healthy,

Big E

Matt. 5:6