True Christian Growth
by Pastor Jeffrey Smith
Fruitfulness, or spiritual growth, matters to God and is very significant in the life of a Christian. Just as a healthy tree bears fruit, so should our faith produce results that display the power of the seed of Christ in our lives.
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message)
Let’s define what true Christian growth looks like:
True Christian growth is gradual.
No one is enamored with the process of gradual growth.People are drawn to what is instant or what can fix our problems right now. In the natural, no one drops 20 pounds in 5 days. The process is typically longer. It requires consistent focus, discipline, and time. Similarly, our spiritual life is an intentional process where we grow little by little as we engage God on a daily basis. We become what we behold. Our aim is to become like Christ.
True Christian growth is internal.
Don’t gauge your spiritual maturity by what happens through you, gauge it by the internal growth of your life and heart. Your behavior, interactions with others, perception, and patterns change as a result of the Holy Spirit working in your private life. If you have the same horrible attitude as you did 5 years ago, there is something wrong. The work of the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside-out.
True Christian growth is symmetrical
If you want to know if the fruit in your spiritual life is real, you must ask yourself if they are accompanied by the other fruit. God intended for all of the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) to grow with balance and symmetry.
True Christian growth is inevitable.
If the spirit of God is in you, you are going to grow. As you place your faith and trust in Jesus, the seed of faith will germinate and break forth within you. Even a plant sprouts and grows over time. The process may be gradual and internal, but its evidence will be seen by the world around you.
