GROWING IN CHRIST Every child of God should desire to grow spiritually. This is scriptural, for 2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in grace”. When we are saved, we do not immediately become full- grown Christians but are only “babes in Christ”. As babes we are commanded to “grow”. To remain a “babe” is a shame and a tragedy. Only by growing spiritually, can we please God and glorify Him in our lives. How can a Christian grow in grace? A large book or a series of sermons could be written on this subject, so we cannot give a comprehensive discussion here. The following principles, however, can be outlined. 1. Be sure that you are born again. Certainly, you cannot grow spiritually if you are not a child of God. The Lord said, “Ye must be born again”. We are born again when we repent of sin and commit ourselves to Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Make sure of your salvation. 2. Unite with one of the Lord’s churches and go to work for Him. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. He wants us to love it and give ourselves to it. You cannot expect to grow spiritually if you do not obey the Lord’s first command to you as a Christian – to unite with His church. You cannot live as good a Christian life outside the church as in it. Make your church the most important interest of your life. Attend the services, and participate in the activities. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first” the work of the Lord. We must do this to grow. 3. Cultivate your devotional life through Bible study and prayer. The Bible is God’s Word to us. Read it daily. Read it through. Read it by books and by subjects. The more you read it, the more it will mean to you. You will thus be better equipped for service to the Lord. Prayer is God’s child in conversation with Him. The Bible says, “Pray without ceasing”. Pray daily. Pray about everything. Pray as you work. Have a secret place of prayer. Establish a family altar in your home – a time when all the family is gathered together for Bible reading and prayer. We cannot grow spiritually if we do not develop the devotional life. 4. Make much of Christian fellowship. Let your closest friendships be with other Christians. Visit their homes and invite them to your home. Such fellowship is rich and blessed and will be a great strength for you in resisting temptation and growing spiritually. 5. Separate yourself from the world [2 Cor. 6:14-18]. The world is against God [I John 2:15-17]. We are in the world, but we must not be of the world. Let us separate ourselves from everything that is worldly, everything that would hinder our work for Christ. As long as we hold on to worldly things we cannot grow spiritually. 6. Use and cultivate your talents for the Lord. Every Christian has abilities which he or she can use for God. Use your ability to speak, to sing, to handle business, to bring joy to needy hearts, to teach, to organize, or whatever your talent may be. The church needs that which each member can do. Dedicate yourself to Christ today. [I Cor. 12:12-31] 7. Read good books and other Christian literature. Every home should have religious books and periodicals. Subscribe for the denominational weekly paper and mission journals. Do not let the wrong type of books and other literature have a place in your home. 8. Be honest toward God in the use of your money. Every Christian’s income belongs to God. At least a tenth of it should be brought to God’s house regularly. If you are dishonest toward God in matters relating to money, your spiritual growth will be stunted. Study carefully God’s Plan of Church Finances. 9. Exercise self-control. Satan is ever seeking to hinder our Christian lives and the Lord’s work by bringing jealousy, ill-temper, and selfishness into our hearts. Church work has often been hindered by some Christian who sought to be “bossy” or was non-co-operative. Such a spirit is of the devil. If it appears in your life, destroy it by Bible study and prayer. 10. Seek the counsel and help of your pastor. He is one of the best friends you can have. God has set him in the church to aid you, to teach you, and to lead you. Confide in him. Work with him. When you are in trouble, he will be ready to help you. When you are tempted, he will fight with you in your battle with Satan. When you need spiritual counsel or guidance, you will find no better earthly friend than your pastor. As you walk with him, you will be walking closer to God; seek his fellowship. 11. Live for Christ one day at a time. Live for him every minute of it – in your business, at your job, in your home, in your social relationships and wherever you are. Live in such a way that the spirit of Christ is manifested in your life. Live for Christ twenty-four hours a day. If you fail, as you sometimes will, confess your sin in repentance and ask God to help you overcome it. Sometimes Christians give up when they fail once. That is not God’s way. His Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [I John 1:9]. 12. Win others to Christ. The greatest work in the world is soul winning. Every Christian can and should bring others to the Savior. This work saves souls from Hell, brings joy on earth and in heaven, and is the greatest means of Christian growth. Dedicate yourself to it today, and ask God to guide you. Pray for the lost persons that you know. As God leads you, talk to them about their spiritual needs. Tell them about your own experience of salvation. Lead them to confess Christ openly and unite with the church. [Psalm 126:5, 6]
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:40:44 +0000
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