SPIRITUAL GROWTH: A MARK OF TRUE BELIEVERS
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Today’s Reading:
II Peter 1:1-11
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Spiritual growth is not about how long you have been in the faith, but how much of Christ is seen in you. It is the continuous process of becoming more like Christ in your thoughts, actions, and character. A Christian who is not growing will decay and, with time, will die spiritually. It’s so sad that many claim to be born again for a long but they are still spiritual infants despite the years they have spent in church. Apostle Peter, in his second letter, highlighted eight non-negotiable ingredients that must be evident in the life of anyone who is a child of God.
The first one is the foundation without which every other will be meaningless, and that is faith. Everything begins with faith. It’s the root of our Christian life, believing God’s Word and promises. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6. For it is by faith in Jesus that our salvation comes. Spiritual maturity has its foundation in faith. The second ingredient is virtue (moral excellence or character). Once you accept Christ through faith, it must be evidenced in your way of life, your character. Character is who you are when no one is watching. If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature... (II Corinthians 5:17). The third is knowledge, to have a spiritual understanding and discernment of what God wants you to do. As you walk uprightly, you seek to know God more deeply through His Word, reading Christian novels, prayer and by the help of the Holy Spirit.
The fourth is temperance or self-control. If any man will come after me, he must deny self, take up his cross daily and follow me, Luke 9:23. Controlling your emotions and desires is are essential part of your growth. The fifth is patience (perseverance or endurance). You must learn to wait on God even when things are not rosy. The sixth, which is godliness, connotes being like Christ in conduct, having deep reference and devotion to God. The seventh is brotherly kindness. Loving brethren genuinely, sacrificial life, loving the unlovable, just like Christ gave his life to us while we were still sinners. The last one, which is the ultimate, is Charity, that is, sacrificial love. This is the agape love which God showed through Jesus Christ by giving us the only begotten Son. These virtues form a spiritual growth ladder which starts from faith (the beginning) to love (the perfection of Christian character). If these things be in you and abound, they make you neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:8.
JAMES ALADE
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.
Prayer:
Whatever is hindering my spiritual growth, give way by fire in name.
I receive and appropriate grace to grow daily in Jesus' name.
At every point that l am stagnant in my spiritual growth, oh Lord, visit me afresh
Rekindle my passion for spiritual things in Jesus' name.
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