#9 Growth is Natural

The concept of spiritual growth is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting God's desire

for His people to mature in faith, character, and understanding. In II Thessalonians 1.3 Paul

writes to us “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other”. Apostle Peter echoed the same concept in II Peter 3.18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”. Growth is natural in every living thing; it is one of the fundamental proofs of life. Whenever and wherever growth is challenged, it always creates a disturbing concern. Growth means development, progress and advancement, for example, the physical development of a teenager is obvious when compared to a toddler. Where the contrary is the case, it would be a huge concern

for the family, it could bring pain, agony and distress for the parents.

What then is spiritual growth? Let’s explore the following passage of the Word together for

biblical answer. Hebrew 5.13-14 “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.   But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”. At new birth in Christ, we are all admonished to desire the Word of God in the milk version, which is what we all need when we are still babies even in the natural to facilitate growth. “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” I Peter 2.2 so, our spiritual growth is the function of the handling of the Word of God. It is a continuum of usage of the Word of God, this is evident in exercised spiritual senses that could discern both good and evil. In simple words, our spiritual growth is measured in relation to our usage of the Word of God daily. How we apply the Word in our lives daily, how we respond to instructions coming from the Word even if it doesn’t go with our logics and other people opinions. How we react to the correction and the doctrines and the reproof of Scripture (II Timothy3.16).

Spiritual growth is not a function of age but a function of our disposition to the Word of God.

Our disposition to the Word of God is an evident of our disposition to God Himself, because

God and His Word cannot be separated, they are One (John 1.1). So, at new birth, we are

challenged to start with the milk of the Word, it is called babe/infant in Christ, who purely relies on her mother’s milk or process milk to grow. From babes in Christ, we are expected to keep growing so we can graduate from sucking milk to actual eating solid food “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” Hebrew 5.14. just like the natural birth, we all start our growth journey as an infant in the family of God (John 3.3, 5-7) and keep growing into perfection.

Jesus Is Lord!