Learning to grow spiritually…

February 3rd, 2006
Today is the fourth day that Bobby has been sick and in bed. He has the flu and it has gotten much worse as the days go by, but hopefully he will get some relief and start feeling better over the weekend. We’ve been talking a lot about God’s grace to us. We aren’t always faithful to praise God for what He gives us until we are missing it…like our health. I don’t always notice how sweet and generous our friends are until we need them and they are there for us. I am glad that God allows us to have good times and bad times. Change for us always magnifies His glorious greatness.

Earlier today I was reading some thoughts by John MacArthur on 2 Peter 3:18. “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.”

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Spiritual growth is not mystical, sentimental, devotional or
psychological. It’s not the result of some clever secret formula.
It is simply matching your practice with your position.

As believers, our position in Christ is perfect: we are complete in
Him (Col.2:10); we have all things that pertain to life and godliness
(2 Pet. 1:3); and we have received all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).
But now we need to progress in our daily lives in a way that is
commensurate with our exalted position. Giving glory to God is
directly related to spiritual growth.
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I want to bring God glory in my life. But I, like many others, have fallen into a trap of seeking the “secret” to success in this area. Maybe it’s praying more, keeping a journal, reading a Psalm every day… I want to try anything that will help me glorify the Lord in all I say and do. But I have not thought of it as simple as MacArthur’s one statement: matching your practice with your position. This is what brings God glory. In the Christian life we cannot suffice for good intentions. It isn’t enough that we each have a Bible. We must read it, understand it and live it.

This is both challenging and refreshing. It is a challenge because it can seem a lot more difficult to put our two-faced ways behind us and live united in what we say and do because our selfishness so easily gets in the way or when people will persecute us for living our faith. It is encouraging in that we don’t have to be on a search for some secret or 10-step method for spiritual growth. It is as MacArthur states–matching practice with position. I hope that you, too, will set your heart to this end with the grace and strength God provides.

5 Comments

  1. Kim
    February 5th, 2006

    Thanks for this great post Christa! It is so encouraging to see that, as you grow closer to the birth of your child, you are so focused on God’s grace!
    It is always an encouraging day when I always venture to the BlakeyBlog, and find a new post!

  2. the Rehrers
    February 5th, 2006

    Thanks for much for sharing your thoughts! I was just thinking today of my need to not just desire a more obedient life for the Lord, but my need to follow through on my desires with day by day, moment by moment obedience. Thank you for the encouragement and the challenge to put my position into practice!! MacArthur and you described it perfectly! I hope Bobby feels better soon and I hope you don’t get sick! - Kara

  3. Bradford Smith
    February 8th, 2006

    Hi Christa, thanks for describing spiritual growth in such simple terms as matching our practice to our position. How important is it for us to daily remember our position before the Lord. I’m still reading that MLJ book. I like how he has to remind himself of his position every morning, preaching to himself that he’s a child of God and an heir of eternity. He gets the his strength for daily living from remembering his position! Keep up the writing, I think your blog is great!

  4. Drew
    February 8th, 2006

    haha 10 step method…

  5. Michelle Sybert
    July 14th, 2008

    And if you are not growing spiritually…then are you dying spiritually?
    (this is in reference to your feb 3rd post on Learning to grow spiritually)

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