What is it to be a Christian? Is it that we’ve had a one-time experience of salvation? Or is it that we experience growth in Christ daily, some evidence of change? I know the argument is endless, but I wanted to share this quote from Clyde Crandford’s book Because We Love Him.
Repentance that is not ongoing is not genuine; faith that does not involve surrender is not adequate; a life in which holiness does not develop is not Christian.
You may or may not agree, but I think if nothing else, this statement should serve as a wake-up call for believers. We argue about this issue because we haven’t lived consistently. A life in which we are ever being changed into Christ’s image should be the norm, not the rare exception. How are you changing today?Technorati Tags: discipleship, salvation, repentance, holiness, clyde cranford, growth
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Richard Blackaby, in this article, does a great job of related to us that the growth and success of a church largely (almost entirely) depends on the spiritual growth taking place in the heart of the Pastor. It’s so true that we can’t give away what we don’t have. I’ve spent plenty of time being frustrated and discouraged over low numbers in seasons when I’m more about studying church growth than studying God’s Word. But when I really connect with God and spend ample time in prayer, that’s when God seems to really bless the church around me with a fresh season of growth, both spiritually and numerically.
“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!” -Amos 6:1
I remember a movie I saw as a kid about a family that was moving across the country. They owned a Saint Bernard dog that was so fat and lazy they only way they could tell if the dog was alive was to place a mirror under its nose to see if it was still breathing. Spiritually, we ought to check our breath every day to make sure we are alive and breathing.
Amos wrote a very harsh prophecy to the northern kingdom of Israel and his message to them in chapter six was “Watch out, those of you who are too comfortable!” Apathy is a deadly disease to our spiritual growth. When we stop caring about the lost around us, we stop witnessing. When we stop caring about the Word, we stop growing spiritually. When we trust in our bank accounts and IRA’s instead of the living God, we stop walking by faith.
Are you alive and breathing today? Check your life. Woe to us who are at ease in America! Let’s wake up and have revival.
“So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” -1 Corinthians 3:7
In six days, God made the world, then He watched it grow. He made flowers to bloom in the spring, trees to turn from sproutlings into giant oaks. He made man to develop from a tiny embryo to a full grown adult. God gives growth.
This is true in our spiritual life as well. God gives us spiritual growth. He did not save us for the moment but for a lifetime and for all of eternity. We are not merely trophies in God’s trophy case, we are living and flourishing creatures. Our hearts and minds and souls are to grow by a steady diet of the Word of the Lord. We’re to develop our gifts, go for our dreams, and determine to accomplish God’s great purposes on earth.
Are you growing? God has given you the tools of prayer, fellowship, and His Word. He’s given you 176 hours this week in which to grow. He even gives you trials and tribulations so that you might grow spiritually and develop depth and strength. It is God that gives growth! So flourish today under the green thumb of God’s special care.
