January
9
He
must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).
What is spiritual
growth? What is spiritual maturity? What is it to go on in the Lord? I fear we
have got mixed ideas about this. Many think that spiritual maturity is a more
comprehensive knowledge of Christian doctrine, a larger grasp of scriptural
truth, a wider expanse of the knowledge of the things of God; and many such
features are recorded as marks of growth, development, and spiritual maturity.
Beloved, it is nothing of the kind.
The hallmark of true
spiritual development and maturity is this: that we have grown
so much less and the Lord Jesus has grown so much more. The mature soul is one
who is small in his or her own eyes, but in whose eyes the Lord Jesus is great.
That is growth. We may know a very great deal, have a wonderful grasp of
doctrine, of teaching, of truth, even of the Scriptures, and yet be spiritually
very small, very immature, very childish. (There is all the difference between
being childish and child-like.) Real spiritual growth is just this: I decrease,
He increases. It is the Lord Jesus becoming more. You can test spiritual growth
by that.
This photograph is by Eric Jonas Swensson.
Whitney: These short messages are great. Thank you for sharing this one. I learned so much from reading it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, again to you, quiet spirit. It is very encouraging to hear something back from the receiving end. You have commented before, and now this -- you are becoming my new best friend! Happy new year, and may GOD bless you, as I know He does and has and will, for His name for you (and me) is "Mine."
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