SEEING Our Spiritual Growth as God SEES (us)
As an educator, I place value in the acquisition of knowledge. It is fact that we cannot ever gain enough (knowledge), but what if there was something found within this world more valuable than studying, than learning, and even more than degrees?
THERE IS!
WE KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE—BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS US SO!
In reading, I found an article that spoke about the reading of God’s Word, a discussion about these two things:
- How much do people actually read the Bible? &
- When they do read, what medium do the readers most want to use—Electronic or Print?
After reading, I found myself sitting, considering the answers given, and then I began to form my own questions within my mind, questions like:
- What causes people to read or not read the Holy Word of God? &
- Why would a believer, a child of God NOT desire the intimacy that comes through reading God’s Word given to His children? &
- If a person, a Christian, does read, how can this one grow in spiritual maturity right now, right here, in this time of life?
- All of this led me to the dream Jacob experienced as he slept on a rock during his travel from Beersheba to Haran.
- All of this led me to Peter’s words about the desire for spiritual growth recorded in his first letter.
- All of this led me to Paul’s letter written to the believers living at Ephesus.
Thus, I find that the best way to continue this discussion is to stop writing my words and allow God’s Word to speak for itself, so please read with me & may we SEE Our Spirituality & Our Spiritual Growth as God SEES (us).
“And he had a dream, [Jacob did] and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Then behold, the LORD was standing above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.
Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Behold I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
(Genesis 28: 12-15 NASB)
- Jacob awoke with a suddenness.
- Jacob knew God was there with him.
- Jacob got up early and carried his pillow-stone to a spot where he could make a marker, as a memorial stone, & then Jacob poured oil upon the stone to consecrate the stone.
- Jacob then gave the place (Luz) a new name; he called that place—Bethel.
- Jacob made a vow to God, promising the LORD that HE would be Jacob’s God—COMPLETELY!
- Then Jacob swore to give a tenth of EVERYTHING—TO GOD!
When we first accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, we come to the family of faith as “newborns,” as “baby Christians,” but that is not where our Father wants us to remain. Let us allow God’s Word to speak for itself; please continue reading with me as we SEE Our Spirituality & Our Spiritual Growth as God SEES (us).
“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
(1 Peter 2: 1-5 NASB)
- Peter makes it clear what sinful qualities we need rid of from our lives.
- Peter encourages us to long for the Word of God as a baby longs for milk.
- Peter reminds us that once we have encountered God, we are changed.
- Peter gives us a clear image of Jesus Christ’s rejection, & then
- Peter admonishes us to live as “living stones,” holy and “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
So, we ask:
1. What causes Christians to read or not read the Holy Word of God? &
2. Why would a believer, a child of God NOT desire the intimacy that comes through reading God’s Word given to His children? &
3. If a child of God, a Christian, does read, how can this one grow in spiritual maturity right now, right here, in this time of life?
We come into the family of faith as “newborns,” as “baby Christians,” but truly that is not where our Father wants us to remain. Beginning today, may we allow God’s Word to speak to us, to change us from the inside out, and to affect our entire lives, as we begin to SEE Our Spirituality & Our Spiritual Growth as God SEES (us).
“For this reason [Paul is speaking of his tribulation, his sufferings he endured as a faithful follower of Christ] I bend my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the innerself,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.”
(Ephesians 3: 14-19 NASB)
This is our prayer today, LORD, that we know more about YOUR will for our lives than ANYTHING!
This is our prayer today, FATHER, that we are filled & overflowing with YOU more than ANYTHING!
This is our prayer today, GOD, that we can SEE our spiritual growth as YOU SEE (us)!