Grow, Spiritually.

Memory Verse: "As newborn babes, long for pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow toward salvation- now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Pet.2:2-3, TLV)

Scripture Reading: Heb.5:11-14.

Today's devotional topic sounds like a command; isn't it? Yes, that's because growing spiritually is indeed a command from God.

Spiritual growth is a must for every believer who wants to make heaven. 

The starting point in the heavenly race therefore, is first the salvation of our souls. Thereafter, spiritual progress, growth or maturity commences. It is for this reason that Peter wrote to the believers in Christ: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." (1 Pet.2:2, KJV)

Sadly today, many of our churches do not quite emphasise the salvation experience which is central to our growth and maturity in Christ. People are encouraged to join a church  and become workers without the initial experience of salvation. It's more like raising the 'Martha-kind-of-believers.'

The result is that we breed half baked and dysfunctional workers- some of whom may not have experienced the saving knowledge of Christ. Some have even gone ahead to become Pastors just because they have made themselves available to serve.

This ought not to be so. 

The Bible says this as touching the qualifications of a Bishop or an overseer: "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim.3:6, KJV). We cannot afford to appoint a novice in the faith into positions of authority. Spiritual Growth therefore is key if we must amount to anything in ministry- not limited to pulpit ministry and assignments.

If you have been in a particular spiritual state for long, this is the time to make progress and move on to higher spiritual levels- talking about moving on to perfection as stated in Heb.6:1: "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God." 

Therefore, in order to finish well this year; the need to move on beyond the basic salvation experience unto perfection or maturity cannot be overemphasised.

Be intentional about your growth. 

Remember, there's no end to spiritual growth. Just be committed to spiritual growth and keep growing.

Ponder Point: "Spiritual growth is like learning to walk. We stand up, fall, stand up, fall, take a step, fall, take a couple of steps, fall, walk a little better, wobble a bit, fall, run and finally, eventually fly." (Geri Larkin)

Action Point: Grow, spiritually.

Prayer Point: Father in Jesus name, I decree that the jinx of spiritual complacency and stagnation is broken in my life. I accept full responsibility for my spiritual growth and I ask that the forces from Heaven that propels one towards spiritual growth be released to help me. Amen.