Spiritual Growth – 5

Many believers today are specialist in converting God’s promises to prayer requests, but the ability and grace to grow spiritually is not a promise from God. It is a done deed! The bible makes us understand that everything we need for spiritual growth has been given to us (2 Peter 1:3). But how do we make use of these gifts in order to grow?

Firstly, I will suggest you learn to set your priorities right. Many people get born again and fly to the pulpit or start struggling for recognition in Christian gatherings. Some others are only concerned about becoming like ‘that man of God’. I remember my dad always told me that a soldier prepares for war in the time of peace. They undergo trainings before facing the battlefield. Even soldiers that are recruited during war time still go through a brief training exercise. It is only if a war general wants to kill a brand new soldier that he puts him in front of a battalion. As a soldier of Christ, do not kill your growth because you want to be in the forefront without having the internal capability to be there. These days, you see someone get born-again last year, and this year he has founded a church. If you ask him his reasons, he will tell you God called him. Yes I agree. God called him like he called everyone over two thousand years ago when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. But it is good to learn from others that God called in time past and they made a good success of their calling.

Jesus Christ spent the early years of his life focusing on his growth. Luke 2:52 (GW) says “Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity”. When Apostle Paul got saved, he did not go to struggle for position in Jerusalem. Rather, he spent over 15 years reaching out to himself.I’m not suggesting you postpone blessing humanity till sometimes in the far future. Like Paul, he was able to preach the gospel and invite others to Jesus immediately after his conversion. You do not need spiritual growth to do that. But I’m admonishing that you do not try to reach out to others at the expense of your spiritual growth. Don’t struggle to breathe out more than you breathe in. Let your concern not be centered on occupying church offices.

You just got born-again? Focus on your growth. You’ve been born again for some time? Focus on your growth as well. I have observed in life that people who spend time only longing to be at the forefront and do not attend to their growth end up not getting there. But those who did not even dream of the front but just spent time focusing on their growth and development end up being in front. This is because they tend to catch up with the dream during the growth process and the dream is complemented with the capability to be there.

The commandment is still “love your neighbour as you love yourself”. If you don’t love yourself enough to reach out to yourself and develop yourself, do not deceive men that you love them and want to reach out to them.

Evangelical researcher George Barna once reported – “Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church…, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket, but when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, most people stop short.” The truth is that, this is not peculiar to Americans alone. We see the same problem in Asians, Africans and every race.

So the first step I recommend after knowing that God has given you all you require to grow spiritually is to set your priorities right. Make a decision to reach out to yourself. Help yourself so you can help others. Make a real commitment to give your best in knowing God and growing spiritually.

– tope aladenusi