Our goal is to be mature and complete, to become as He is (Mt 5:48).
When each individual member in the body of Christ grows spiritually, it will also help the church as a whole grow (Eph 4:16).
To root our faith, so we are not easily swayed (Eph 4:14)
If we do not root our faith, we may find ourselves easily shaken by:
External circumstances (e.g., hardships, suffering, trials) or other people around us (e.g., depending on others for our faith; only going to church or cultivating our faith if others do or tell us to, etc.)
False teachings or heresies (e.g., church in Galatia; Gal 1:6-7)
If we have shallow roots, we will easily fall away (Mt 13:21; Lk 8:13).
However, if we are firmly rooted in Christ and trust in Him, regardless of challenges or how people and environments change around us, we will remain steadfast in our faith (Jer 17:7-8; Col 2:7).
Ways to pursue spiritual growth
B. Cultivate godly virtues to reflect Christ’s divine nature.
Biblical examples:
Job - learned humility and a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty through his sufferings
Joseph - learned persistence in holding fast to his faith despite the afflictions he faced; learned forgiveness when met with his brothers again
Daniel - cultivated faithfulness and courage to remain steadfast to God and godly principles despite living in a foreign land (e.g., not partaking of the king’s delicacies, continuing to pray despite the king’s edict and being thrown into the lion’s den)
C. Pursue maturity in our thinking and knowledge of God and His word
In our thinking
Instead of only seeking to obtain God’s grace, we should grow in our desire and heart to repay Him for His grace.
“Love me” vs “Help me love You more.”
This can be likened to the attitude of a child towards his parents, evolving from an attitude of “give me” to “What can I give you?” The child demonstrates growth and maturity when he recognizes and appreciates his parents’ love, desiring to repay their love.
In our knowledge of God and understanding of His word
Grow from taking milk to solid food (Heb 5:12-14).
Move past elementary principles and teachings, e.g., repentance, faith towards God, resurrection of the dead, etc. (Heb 6:1-2).
As we continue in our spiritual journey, we should not remain only in the stage of understanding the fundamentals of our faith and basic beliefs.
Instead, we should be able to take solid food — teachings that may be harder to hear and apply (e.g., sacrifice, suffering for the Lord, serving, etc.).
Pursue to become more like Christ (examples).
Our love - showing kindness to those around us; cultivating forbearance and a willingness to serve brothers/sisters; being patient with our family members.
Our knowledge of God - how much do we truly understand about God, His will, and His words? Does our understanding continue to dwell at the elementary level or have we developed our own spiritual discernment?
Our faith - how does our faith impact the decisions we make in our daily lives? What role does our faith play when we encounter tribulations or setbacks?
Our thanksgiving - have we taken opportunities to express our thanksgiving to God? Are our prayers solely focused on asking and receiving more of God’s grace, or are we able to live out our gratitude through our actions? Do we have the desire to repay God for all He has already given us?