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August 4, 2012
Measuring Our Spiritual Growth
Read | 2 Peter 3:17-18
All around the world, people go to church, bow their head to pray,
and hear sermons, but many are not growing spiritually. I consider this a
great tragedy.
It is all too common for believers to assume these actions fulfill
Christian obligations. They may complete a checklist but experience no
thriving relationship with Jesus. Do you see evidence in your own life
that you're maturing in your walk with Him?
To blossom spiritually, we must be saved. This happens the moment
God makes us new, cleansing us of unrighteousness and adopting us as His
own. Upon that foundation, we can begin to grow. Yet even with this
new life, we can be stagnant.
Eight indicators reveal the quality of our Christian journey. Today,
let's explore three of them. First, growing believers should sense a
deepening hunger for Christ. As we experience more of Jesus, who is the
bread of life (John 6:35), our desire for Him will increase. Second,
believers dwelling closely with the Savior will notice that their
discernment of sin sharpens. Faulty teaching and thinking become more
obvious as we accumulate truth within our spirit. Third, our sphere of
love should continuously expand. In time, the Holy Spirit enables us to
care for people who previously were either unnoticed or difficult to
accept.
Do you have an insatiable hunger for God and an increasing awareness
of sin? Is your love available only for those who match your personal
standard of performance--or are you caring even for difficult people?
These are important questions to ask when determining the quality of
your spiritual growth.
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