Shooting the Breeze
A lot of Christians believe that spiritual growth just happens automatically once they are saved. They believe that as long as they attend lots of church services regularly they will grow spiritually.
The sad fact is, churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives and yet they are still spiritual babies.
Spiritual growth must be intentional.
Spiritual growth is not automatic with the passing of time.
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” Hebrews 5:12
Millions of Christians have grown older physically without ever-growing up spiritually.
Spiritual growth requires commitment and effort to grow.
A person must want to grow, decide to grow and make an effort to grow.
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13
Notice that it says “work out “ NOT “work on” your salvation. There is nothing we can add to what Christ did for our salvation. In these verses, Paul is talking about spiritual growth to people who are already saved.
The important thing to know is that God has a part in our growth but so do we.
We must make an intentional effort to grow.
Becoming like Christ is the result of the commitments we make.
We become whatever we are committed to.
Without a commitment to grow, the growth that does occur will be circumstantial, rather than intentional.
Spiritual growth is too important to be left to circumstance.
Spiritual growth that leads to maturity begins with the kind of commitment described in Romans 6:13:
“… give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” (New Living Translation)
How are you making an intentional effort to grow spiritually?
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Your Phil. 2:13 was the verse “dedicated” to me and written in the Phillips NT given to me April 15, 1966, 6:30 PM in Tacoma, WA, when the Baptist leader had led me to the Lord. That has been my “verse” forever. [About a year later, I gave that NT to a homeless man on the street in East St. Louis.]
Re: growth. It is absolutely necessary to move onward and upward. I’ve known/seen others who think that once saved, there is no need to push on. Putzing is good enough. I’m pretty sure they don’t really think that’s what they’re thinking, but their lack of moving forward, learning, growing can cause real trouble. Very sad. Thanks for popping this into the mix. It is absolutely necessary for us to stay on guard/target… and growing again.
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We must be committed to ongoing spiritual growth.
Thanks for sharing Joanne!
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Everyone needs to read this post. America is full of Christians who simply fill up a pew. I am reading “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer- It’s really really good. It talks about cheap grace vs. costly grace.
If you’ve never read it, please do. Bonhoeffer’s words and warnings to the German church pre- WWII are haunting in how they describe America now.
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Bonhoeffer’s book is awesome. I read it many years ago but I probably should read it again.
Thanks for sharing!
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I agree that we have to put in conscious effort to grow spiritually since it is much easier to slide downhill than to climb uphill.
I therefore pray and try to do the right thing even when I do not feel like doing it and thus exercise and grow my “Righteousness Muscles”.
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Growing our “righteousness muscles” … I like that!
Thanks for sharing Miriam!
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We really need spiritual growth to earn great possibilities intentionally. Ways of having that will surely boost up confidence in yourself and it will help you for your own good.
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Thanks for sharing Mika!
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Beautiful post, i wish that we would be able to apply this way of thinking, of putting intention first, before everything and not only spiritual development, then we’d be able to actually develop in so many directions
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Thanks for sharing ella!
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Hi Kevin
Yes…. we need to work with our connection to our Father in Heaven….. if we do not play our part in building up our relationship then we will not be able to hear him because we are not a ready vessel to receive revelation.
I loved your post.
Thanks and best wishes
Pete
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Thanks for sharing Pete!
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Hello Kevin
Christian life is not mechanically and minutely following a set of rules. It is a love affair. What you say in this post it the key to experiencing the wonderful love. Kevin looks like you are following these words, “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.” from 1 Tim. 4:6-9. Keep pointing out these thing.
You ask “How are you making an intentional effort to grow spiritually?” For me it has to do with priorities and my priority is to begin my day with time where I sit down in thought and prayer. During this time I become quite and listen for guidance and then take on that guidance.
Thanks
Perry A Davis Jr
Music City
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Thanks for your thoughtful words Perry!
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I know what you mean about priority. That was the very thing God began dealing with me about the beginning of this year.
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This special time has made a great difference in my day. Here is something I just read about this time: Times of prayer are time of growth. Cut those times short and many well filled hours of work may be profitless. Heaven’s values are so different from the values of earth.
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That is such a challenging quote Perry. Thanks for sharing it!
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I could not agree more. It definitely is a dedicated effort to grow in faith.
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It is indeed!
Thanks for sharing Gerald!
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