Part 4: Growing And Maturing In Christ
In the preceding three parts we studied the following themes: We Are Christ’s Disciples, Becoming More Christlike, and Change Through Transformation.
Growth is a key Biblical concept (idea). Ephesians 4 says that we should no longer be infants; we are to grow up in Christ. 1 Corinthians speaks of edification (spiritual improvement), as the whole body grows and builds itself up in love. 1 Peter 2:2 instructs us to desire the milk of the Word so that we may grow up; 2 Peter 3:18 instructs us to go on growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The key element of the Sermon on the Mount is that we are to be perfect (mature) as our Father in heaven is perfect. Growth is a normal sign of health. It fits with life, just as decline and decay fit with death. If you are not a growing person, you probably are an unhappy person.
This life is not so much about what we do as what we are becoming. Instead of being dominated by the selfishness of our own interests we must grow into better things—Christlike things. God knows that we need to stretch, to dare, to dream, to pursue what could be and should be. God calls us to go beyond what we know, to accept challenges and take risks for Christ and His kingdom. As God’s children we have a higher calling, a higher standard, a higher authority. God is not impressed with mediocrity (being ordinary) or stagnation (being inactive). He wants us to grow. Absolute perfection is an unreachable goal, but it is good to aspire to greater things. God likes us to be ambitious.
Ambition can be a bad thing, however, if it is based on ego and self. But it is a good thing if it is a desire to grow in the Lord and to serve others. Paul spoke of ambition many times. He said, “I make it my ambition to please him [Christ]” (2 Cor.5:9). He said “It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ is not known” (Rom. 15:20). Paul wanted to know Christ, the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. He pressed on to the goal, the prize of Christ’s call (Phil. 3:10-14). He emphasized that we should focus on things that are noble, true, loving, good, and virtuous (pure)” (Phil. 4:8). In Hebrews our life is likened to a race to be run. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, remove any weights of sin or self and run the race with patience.
Are we ambitious to make an increased impact on the lives of others around us? Are we ambitious to have more glory brought to the Lord Jesus Christ? If God were to entrust us with more wealth, more influence and more responsibility, how would we manage these things? Why do we want to see the Lord’s touch on our lives? Is it for our pleasure? Is it to impress others? Or is it for God’s glory? Our ambition should be to grow and mature in Christ, that He may be glorified through our lives.
Summary:
- Part 1: God’s purpose is to make us more and more like Christ. That means that we should expect to change and embrace the changes God is making in us.
- Part 2: Change comes through the Word (the Bible) and through the Holy Spirit. We follow Christ’s example, and learn to live His way.
- Part 3: The changes we need come from within through transformation, not from external pressure to conform. A Christian does good things because he is a Christian; he is not a Christian because he does good things. Transformation is not by human effort but by God’s power. We must be willing to change, but only God can make us changed people.
- Part 4: In this life we are learning and growing. This life is a journey and a preparation for eternity. Growth is to be expected.
Personal Declarations:
- I am a new creature in Christ. (See Jn 3:7; 2 Cor. 5:17; 2 Cor. 3:18)
- Christ is transforming me from within. (See Ephes. 4:24; Rom. 12:2; Rom. 8:2)
- I am a disciple. Above all else, I want to know Jesus and learn from him. (See Jn. 14:9; Mat. 11:29; Jn. 17:3
—Adapted from the writings of Mark Asp
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