Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
How To Grow in Faith
We are to call upon Him! Second Chronicles tells us, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…
Do you see the condition? The “if” needs to become a “do;” we are to carry out what He has accepted in us, so the rest of the passage becomes fulfilled in us. …then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
To grow means we are to turn from sin, seek Him, be praying, act with humility, seek His righteousness, and practice maturity. We are not to wander from Him or allow our desires to be selfish and sinful. We are to focus on His precepts and allow ourselves to be filled up with Christ. When we call upon our Lord, that call will echo over all those around us.
We grow as we look to and trust in Him, and as we pursue our lives in Christ.
That means careful pursuit and continual growth, not a simple look-over, but an in-depth and committed life. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Growing is surrendering our will to His. Surrender is the process through which we grow toward Him and His will, and away from our will. Surrender is making Christ the Lord of all of our lives so that worship, discipleship, and growth can happen.
For this to truly happen, we must rid ourselves of false presumptions, perceptions, reckless ideas, faulty thinking, and other such things that are barriers to our growth, so we can make room for Him.
This can start by our realizing that Jesus “authors” our faith and teaches us how to run the race according to God’s will for His glory, His worship, and His purpose. Thus, we gain a deeper intimacy with our Lord as our Commander and Friend, as our God and our King, as the provider of Grace, as our Love, and as our reason for being.
In His purposes, we find real contentment, joy, and fulfillment.
This can be summed up in the adage, “we cannot be doing the work of God unless we are the people of God.” We have to be growing before we can be effective.
What have you done about pursuing your life in Christ?
Growing in Christ is the key, so is Christ LORD over you and your church, if not why not?
Some passages to consider: Psalm 119:89-90; John 3:30; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Filed under: Leadership Issues, Spiritual Maturity | Tagged: Author and Finisher, contentment, discipleship, Discipleship and Growth, fix our eyes, fulfillment, Grow in Faith, How To Grow, humble themselves, Importance of Discipleship, life in Christ, perfecter, pursue, seek my face, Surrender, wicked ways | Leave a comment »
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