It is true that we have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). But the responsibility of our growth is in our hands as believers. How fast you grow after salvation depends on you as a believer and not on God. This is why Apostle Paul said to the Philippians in chapter 2 of the book of Philippians verse 12, that they should work out their salvation with “fear and trembling.”
There are two kinds of growth that God expects from His children. They are: Physical growth (Wealth, Prosperity, and Health). This is found in 3rd John 2. God wants you to be wealthy and prosperous so that you can come back to advance His kingdom on the face of the earth. He wants you to be in health, so that He can make you an example to unbelievers how a healthy lifestyle is part of the Kingdom. Jesus said “Without signs and wonders, people will not believe.” So, God’s agenda is that you grow physically. But this is not all.
There is another growth God is looking forward to in His children. It is called spiritual growth. Spiritual immaturity has no place in the Kingdom (Hebrews 5:12-14). Spiritual growth has to do with developing and maturing in the things of the Spirit. God’s expectation is that His children don’t remain at the level of babies (1 Corinthians 3:1 Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church), but become a spiritual giant.
As a matter of fact, there are a lot of things that God has prepared for His children and that it requires maturity before He can make them available to them. So, God is waiting on us to grow up so that He can launch us forth. Galatians 4:1 makes it clear that an heir, as long as he is a child isn’t different from a servant, even though he owns everything. Until the heir grows to maturity, he won’t have access to his inheritance. You spiritual maturity is important to lay hold on your inheritances in Christ Jesus. You cannot remain a baby Christians forever; this isn’t God agenda for you after salvation.
For a believer, true growth and maturity comes through the renewal of the mind. At salvation, when you become born again, your mind remains the same. In order for you to experience growth, your mind must be renewed, retrained and constantly be re-evaluated. A believer that is not renewing his mind will definitely be conformed to this world. Growth for us is as a result of renewing our minds, and not increase in religious activities. Being religious doesn’t grow you; it will only make you redundant as a believer.
As a matter of fact, as much as you can pray for spiritual growth (Pauline prayers), you simply exercise yourself towards growth as well. So, becoming mature spiritually begins by positioning your mind on the things that matter. It requires your mind’s attention. There is an inclination or positioning that your mind must assume towards spiritual growth. It start from a mind that loves God unconditionally (Matthew 22:37). Also, Jesus at age 12 was found in the temple listening to the teachers of the law and asking questions (Luke 2:46-48). We must learn to be inquisitive in the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 14:26, 16:13).
There are certain things you must do that would enhance your effective growth in the Lord. The first thing is that you must make the word of God your companion. God’s word is our spiritual meal for a healthy spiritual growth. All the balanced diet you require are stated therein, from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 that man can only and truly live by the word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Another thing is that the word of God must be received with a ready mind. This must be our attitude if we want to become spiritually mature (Acts 17:11).
We shouldn’t receive the word of God casually like the tradition of some is. This is why it doesn’t mix with faith in their hearts. When the word of God is received casually, it will not profit the hearer. Another thing we must take seriously is our meditative lifestyle in the word of God. Apart from giving attention to reading and studying God’s word, we must also meditate upon the word of God. Meditation allows the word of God to take roots downwards, and bears fruits upward. These fruits is the maturity we are talking about (Joshua 1:8, 1 Timothy 4:15).
Growing up spiritually also requires that we have a rock-solid Quiet Time. This is the time you set apart for God out of your daily busy schedule. As busy as Jesus was during his earthly ministry, he modelled a befitting quiet time lifestyle for us to emulate (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Matthew 26:36). God reveals deep secret to us in the place of quiet time (Luke 6:12, Deuteronomy 29:29). As you give yourself to the things being talked about here, your spiritual growth cannot afford to remain on the same spot any longer.
Thanks for reading.
