Monday, October 4, 2010

Growth


Usually I only blog about our church's sermon series, but I was really touched by the one from yesterday's service, so I wanted to share it with you. It was about growth-whether that be spiritual growth, personal growth, etc. We started off with a verse from 2 Peter 3:14-18, which reads:

"So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowlege of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen."

Our pastor had brought with him two plants--one full of life and healthy, the other dry and lifeless. "Which plant do you want to be and what are you willing to do about it?" he asked.

To have a spirit like the plant that's constantly growing and full of life, it takes discipline, commitment and help from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We can create the conditions, but only God can create the growth we desire. It can be a very slow process. I've noticed this lately within myself. I desire to constantly grow and yearn for God's presence in my every day life. It's been a very slow process, but every now and then I can see myself getting closer to where I desire to be. With the help from BCM on Monday nights, and my weekly girls bible study, I find myself being held accountable for growing closer to God and spending more time reading my bible or daily devotionals.

Growing in faith takes the help of prayer, scripture study, community, worship, service, sacraments, fasting, and giving. Through these things, God will create in us that spiritual growth we need.

We ended the sermon with a quote from John Wesley which said that he called communion a "means of grace." This can be compared to a form of "miracle grow" from God to help us grow :)

Until next time, keep growing!

1 comment: