Our culture is growth-obsessed. Every self-help book, social media influencer, and advertisement promises that if you just grow your wealth, your wardrobe, your experiences, your belongings or your physique, then you’ll be satisfied. You can be your best self… if you focus on growing yourself.
But the kind of growth
Jesus calls us to is altogether
different.
In
2 Peter 3, the apostle Peter warns his readers that as the day of Jesus’ return draws nearer, there will be people who scoff at God and follow their own desires instead of His. He reminds the Church to be ready for the day when Christ comes back, and to live holy and blameless lives until He does. The chapter ends with this encouragement: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
What does this kind of growth look like?
If you want to get to know someone, you have to spend lots of time with them. The same is true of God. If we want to grow in knowledge of Jesus, we need to spend time with Him. Thankfully, He’s revealed Himself to us in His Word, the Bible. It’s often referred to as God’s love letter for us–given so that we might know and understand Him and His story of redemption.
Not sure where to start? Try one of the following:
The mark of a true believer who is growing spiritually is the presence of what the Bible calls the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). But this fruit can only be seen as a result of abiding in Jesus. He says this in John 15:
“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”
What does it mean to
abide in Jesus? 19th century theologian J.C. Ryle
explains, “To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend.”
Are you friends with Jesus? Do you look forward to talking to him, spend time thinking about him, and trust him to meet your needs?
Spend some time this week asking yourself what it might look like to abide in Jesus, and if you’re living in a manner
worthy of Him.
The only kind of growth that offers true satisfaction is Godly growth: that of the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Athletic, financial, and status growth will offer temporary happiness, but the work that God began in you is so much more fulfilling than anything the world can offer–and He will bring that work to completion. One growing pain at a time.
Here at FCA, we are committed to growing together.
Come join us!
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