The great leadership expert John Maxwell once said, “There is no such thing as a full-grown tree. The day a tree stops growing is the day it dies.”1 In the life of a Christian, salvation is the beginning of a new day and marks the day when Jesus changes one’s life and Christ is put in the center of their world.
However, the Christian growth experience is not limited to just the day of salvation day. Paul encourages us to not only receive Christ, but to continue to live in him. Like a tree that is rooted deep on solid ground, so the Christian is to gain greater depth and strength as they dig deeper into the things of God. Growing in Christ is the process of learning intimacy, surrender, and how to trust God’s plan. This is not a quick process but a life-long discovery.
In today’s world, it can be easy to put our relationship with God aside as we prioritize careers, relationships, or anything that we decided to be important. It can also be tempting to push obedience to the side when it doesn’t seem convenient. But being strengthened in the faith is placing God’s Word central in our lives and not let it be information, but wisdom and water to the heart. It is about allowing God to challenge us. It is about forgiving often. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and encourage through life’s sometimes dangerous and dull paths. The sign of a maturing Christian is of pleasing God and of thanksgiving, all the while, letting go of self.
1. What causes come Christian to grow whiles others stay the same? 2. What does it mean to mature in Christ? 3. Think of someone from you connect group, weekend team, or work that you can encourage there walk with God.
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