WE are rapidly coming to a close as we wrap-up the last chapter of our study in Principles of Spiritual Growth. This last chapter titled Continuance recalls to mind all that we have looked at in the necessary elements of spiritual growth. We spent a great deal of time looking at the Principle of Position (Foundations of Spiritual Growth), the aspects of our vital union with and in Christ. Principles of Spiritual Growth has taken us down the path of looking how the right understanding and application of Faith, Time, Acceptance, Purpose, Preparation, Completeness…… well, a rather long list of elements, go together to advance us towards the objective of growth in Christ.
THERE was a line that closed last week’s comments, …the last governs all the others. Full growth governs all in the mind and will and heart and finished work of God, and it is subnormal to stay at any stage short of that end. Two thoughts come to mind in considering that comment.
FIRST: Are we firm on what “that end” is? By now we ought to be able to quote chapter and verse, and there are many: “Not I, but Christ;” “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His _____;” etc, etc, etc.
I WAS recently dealing with a young man struggling in his Christian walk, pointing him to the issue of self, speaking to the issue of personal sanctification, this principle of growing in grace. I was pointing out that God calls us away from self and self-reliance, towards Himself and others (Matt. 20:20ff, Matt. 22: 37 &38). Then it occurred to me that simply put in the purist form, this calling away from self means being less self-centered and more Christ-centered. This is the objective measure. This young man admitted to his own selfishness (to which we can all attest for ourselves and the world around us). To this reality the scriptures point to “This is my beloved Son, hear ye him,” our primary focal point by necessity.
PAUSE and reflect for a moment – think about all the things that occupy our minds, our thoughts, or our time. What is our end? Where are we headed? In the end, what is the measure of it all?When Jesus was with His disciples, there was a moment, (you might say a Damascus Road moment), where he revealed the true nature of it all.
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Matt. 17:5-8
NOTICE, they saw no one but Jesus only. I marvel often how the Word inscribes these things. Just think how different things would be if we possessed the mind of Christ in all things and with all people? We mock at the little modern Christian axiom “what would Jesus do,” and rightly so, though I think it has some merit to it. But more accurately it ought to be “What would Jesus think?” Our thoughts govern our actions, and when our thoughts are right, so will our actions be – in all things, be it our marriages, child-raising, businesses, schools, and dare I say it, politics; how different it would be if they saw no one but Jesus only. The Reformers who brought about the great history changing Reformation had a phrase and motto, “Being Christ to your neighbor”. How novel!
SECONDLY: What of the necessity and absolute demand for spiritual growth? I do not know who said this, but it is an axiom that “that which does not expand, contracts.” I also don’t know the sources of this quote, it too is on my quote collection: “The Christian Life is a saga about becoming.” I do know who stated this: “The reason why so many professing Christians are not troubled over any spiritual decline is because they never had any spiritual health.” – A.W. Pink (Sp. Growth)
I’M going to stop here for the moment, having gone long withhold our reading in Continuance. I’ll delay that for next week’s comment, leaving you with one last quote to challenge your thoughts: It is requisite that “We are to pursue those things that God promises to do in us.” – Al Martin
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas. 1:2
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