Abednego
Member
- Joined
- May 5, 2010
- Messages
- 6
2 Peter 3:18, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
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When it comes to how tall we stand, inherited genetic factors establish a ceiling that limits our height. Regardless of diet and exercise, physical growth ceases at a certain point. No matter how hard we may try, when that limit is reached we cannot grow anymore (vertically that is, though many of us have a tendency to continue to expand horizontally). However, our potential for spiritual advancement, is unlimited. How “tall” we become depends on our own desire and how much we draw on the provisions of our heavenly Father.
Once upon a time an Persian king wanted to teach his four sons never to make rash judgments. So, he told the eldest to go in winter to see a mango tree, the next to go in spring, the third in summer, and the youngest in the fall. After the last son had returned from his autumn visit, the king called them together to describe what they had observed. “It looks like a burnt old stump,” said the eldest. “No,” said the second, “it is lacy green.” The third described it as “beautiful as a rose.” The youngest said, “No, its fruit is like a pear.” “Each is right,” said the king, “for each of you saw the tree in a different season.” And so it is with believers in Christ; we are all at different seasons in our spiritual growth.
What a lesson this fable holds for us who profess Jesus Christ as Savior of our life. Our maturity does not just happen. Our “diet” has to be right and we must “exercise” our faith regularly. Unless we feast on God’s Word, there will be no progress. Unless we obey it, we will never realize our full potential. Our brothers and sisters in the faith are at different stages of growth and they come from many different backgrounds and cultures. Their conversion to Christ is just the beginning of a lifetime of replacing old thoughts, attitudes, habits, and actions with new ones created by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
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Further thoughts:
An accomplished artist who was applying the finishing touches to a bronze sculpture kept filing, scraping, and polishing every little surface of his masterpiece. “When will it be done?” asked an observer. “Never,” came the reply. “I just keep working and working until they come and take it away.” Much the same could be said of the children of God. We are saved by grace and declared righteous in Christ. Yet, when it comes to the matter of Christlikeness in our everyday living, we must keep working at it until Jesus comes and takes us away. Someone has observed, “The acorn does not become an oak in a day. It is not one touch of the artist’s brush that produces a finished painting. There are always months between seedtime and harvest. Whether you are a new believer or have known the Lord for many years, “Grow up in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:15). Don’t let setbacks and failures discourage you. Stay in touch with God through prayer. Then, as you feed on the Word of God and obey His commands, you too will become more like Christ through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Remember, it takes time!
____________
(1) How tall and strong are we in God’s sight?
(2) How would we describe our spiritual growth today compared to a year ago?
(3) Is it marked by steady growth? Or …
(4) Is it like a roller coaster ride with times of intensity followed by seasons of unresponsiveness?
__________
Salvation is the miracle of a moment; growth is the labor of a lifetime.
____________
When it comes to how tall we stand, inherited genetic factors establish a ceiling that limits our height. Regardless of diet and exercise, physical growth ceases at a certain point. No matter how hard we may try, when that limit is reached we cannot grow anymore (vertically that is, though many of us have a tendency to continue to expand horizontally). However, our potential for spiritual advancement, is unlimited. How “tall” we become depends on our own desire and how much we draw on the provisions of our heavenly Father.
Once upon a time an Persian king wanted to teach his four sons never to make rash judgments. So, he told the eldest to go in winter to see a mango tree, the next to go in spring, the third in summer, and the youngest in the fall. After the last son had returned from his autumn visit, the king called them together to describe what they had observed. “It looks like a burnt old stump,” said the eldest. “No,” said the second, “it is lacy green.” The third described it as “beautiful as a rose.” The youngest said, “No, its fruit is like a pear.” “Each is right,” said the king, “for each of you saw the tree in a different season.” And so it is with believers in Christ; we are all at different seasons in our spiritual growth.
What a lesson this fable holds for us who profess Jesus Christ as Savior of our life. Our maturity does not just happen. Our “diet” has to be right and we must “exercise” our faith regularly. Unless we feast on God’s Word, there will be no progress. Unless we obey it, we will never realize our full potential. Our brothers and sisters in the faith are at different stages of growth and they come from many different backgrounds and cultures. Their conversion to Christ is just the beginning of a lifetime of replacing old thoughts, attitudes, habits, and actions with new ones created by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
____________
Further thoughts:
An accomplished artist who was applying the finishing touches to a bronze sculpture kept filing, scraping, and polishing every little surface of his masterpiece. “When will it be done?” asked an observer. “Never,” came the reply. “I just keep working and working until they come and take it away.” Much the same could be said of the children of God. We are saved by grace and declared righteous in Christ. Yet, when it comes to the matter of Christlikeness in our everyday living, we must keep working at it until Jesus comes and takes us away. Someone has observed, “The acorn does not become an oak in a day. It is not one touch of the artist’s brush that produces a finished painting. There are always months between seedtime and harvest. Whether you are a new believer or have known the Lord for many years, “Grow up in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:15). Don’t let setbacks and failures discourage you. Stay in touch with God through prayer. Then, as you feed on the Word of God and obey His commands, you too will become more like Christ through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Remember, it takes time!
____________
(1) How tall and strong are we in God’s sight?
(2) How would we describe our spiritual growth today compared to a year ago?
(3) Is it marked by steady growth? Or …
(4) Is it like a roller coaster ride with times of intensity followed by seasons of unresponsiveness?
__________
Salvation is the miracle of a moment; growth is the labor of a lifetime.
