Check-up from your feet up Bible Reading: II Corinthians 13
Are you growing spiritually? How do you know if you are growing spiritually? Do you know that it is almost impossible for you to remain stagnant? It is either you are progressing or retrogressing. For you to know whether you are growing spiritually or not, you need to constantly examine yourself with the right basis. For example, some people may feel they are growing just because they have been able to do some ‘church things’ that their friends do not do. That’s a wrong basis for gauging spiritual growth because the bible says in II Cor. 10:12 (MSG) “But in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point”. So we must be careful we do not miss the point in attempting to fulfil the biblical instruction – “Test yourselves to make sure you aresolid in the faith … Give yourselves regular checkups” II Cor. 13:5 (MSG). Regular check-up of our entire life is absolutely necessary. In the next few weeks, I will share some parameters that we can use to perform these regular checkups.
First, the way you perceive God and his love will go a long way in revealing to you whether you are growing spiritually or not. God expects us to increase more and more in love towards him and other people. But you will agree with me that it is difficult to advance in what you do not understand. For instance, it will be very difficult to advance in the accounting profession if you do not understand the basics of debit and credit. Similarly, when we have little or no understanding of God’s kind of love, we cannot love like God, which is a key attribute of spiritual growth.
If you also rate God’s love based on the material things you are able to get or not get, it is a sign that you need to do a serious work on your spiritual growth. When your desires and prayers are mainly centered on material things to the point that sometimes you even doubt God’s love and faithfulness because you haven’t gotten those things, then you need no prophet to tell you that you are a babe in Christ. For example, a child that is not given biscuit by his father may think his father doesn’t really love him whereas it will be strange to see that mindset with a 25 year old son. Isn’t it surprising that many of us still cry over “biscuits” despite several years of knowing the Lord?
Hey, don’t be like some people who after giving them such example, they start watching their speech to be sure they do not mainly bother God for material things. Some others start struggling not to feel bad towards God if material things show up late. However, if you realize that you are still exhibiting such babyish tendencies, be true to yourself and be grateful you now know your level. You may even continue with the way you relate with God and be sure to focus more on your growth. This is because your speech, desires, prayers and mindset will change effortlessly when you continue to grow. Just spend time applying the ingredients of spiritual growth which you have learnt from this series and you will be amazed at the drastic change that will happen in your life. We will continue next week.
– tope aladenusi
