I once heard it said that in many things in life you are either moving forward or falling behind, there is no such thing as "standing still". If you think about that it is very true. I mean, in a race you do not have to start moving backwards to lose the race, you just have to stop progressing forward. Well, I believe this is what God wants from us too. He does not want us to reach a point with Him where we become complacent and stop trying to grow in and through Him, or even grow closer to Him.
What you receive when you come to Jesus is a new identity, an authority in the name of Jesus to overcome satan, and a place with God in Heaven...but this is not where things should stop for you. Coming to Jesus lays the foundation for the growth that can and will come to you for all the rest of your days on this earth. In one aspect it is very much like going through school. When you started the first grade you didn't know nearly as much as you did when you graduated high school. It was a yearly progression of getting smarter and smarter. Why, because you kept learning and applying what you learned. Each year you were taught something a little harder than the year before, and when you graduated high school the things you learned in the 1st grade should have seem so basic. Your walk with Jesus should be very similar, only not just in knowledge. Your knowledge of Him, your faith in Him, your walk with Him and your witness for Him....all of these things should move to a new level the longer you walk with Jesus. Many things will grow this in you too. Some of this will come through trials you walk through, some will come through blessings you receive and some will come through being stretched by God. But the point of it all is to take you to a new level with Him. I've said this many times before, but just because God meets us where we are, does not mean He wants to leave us where we are. He knows how much better our lives will get as we continually grow and draw closer to Him. The funny thing about that type of growth is that it really means we become weaker so He can become stronger in us. We also recognize the weakness in our "flesh" and rely on His strength to get us through. Which is the opposite of the world's views. The world tells us to toughen up, get stronger and tackle things on our own. Overcoming something because Jesus got you through it gives you a story to share with others. A story of hope, a story of victory and a story of God's promise not just to you, but to anyone who wants to receive Him and rely on Him. But when you do something on your own, you get to tell others about what you did and pat yourself on the back for it. But you have nothing to offer them. Sure you can say "well this is how I did it", but that does not mean the next person can do what you did...or that they even should. But when you can tell someone this is what God did for me and Him promise is that He can and will do it for you too, well now you have given something real to someone. And now they can experience God on their own too.
1 Timothy 4:15 says "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress". What are "these things" that it is talking about? It's the learning and applying of God's ways. Learning and teaching through the scriptures, receiving the gifts God has for you, and "setting an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity". These are things that will grow you, but they are also things that will allow others to see growth in you. Not a growth you have to go around and tell others about, but one that will make them wonder what has changed you, and want to experience it for themselves. When we grow because of our relationship with Jesus then He is the one that should always get all the credit. And when we can point others to Him, then we have helped grow the kingdom. And that is when the personal things that we have experienced become about others, and not just you.
So as you enter into this new year, try not to be complacent with where God has you, but instead run your race to the best of your God given ability. And start each new day with the words "ready, set, grow..." as you enter into your time with God.
God, thank You that it is Your desire to grow us. Thank You that through that growth other will see You in us and it allows our lives to point others to You. Please Holy Spirit help us to desire growth with and in God as much as we desire the air we breath. Help us to chase after You with all of our heart and never be "satisfied" with where we are because we know with You there is always more. In Jesus name, Amen.
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