You can be Taller

Saturday 21 November
READ: 1 Pet. 2:1-10
MORE LESSON: Psalm 23: 1-3

The Christian life should be characterized by continuous growth. Living is life in progression; it is continuous growth. Every blessing and grace of the believer is in form of a seed and if the seed is cared for it will grow to full maturity. As the Christian walks in the light, he receives knowledge and grows normally to full maturity.

Christian maturity doesn't just happen; our “diet” has to be right and we must “exercise” our faith regularly. It is as we feast on God's Word and obey it that we can realize our full potential. When it comes to how tall we are physically, the inherited genetic factors establish a ceiling that limits our height. No matter how hard we may try, when that limit is reached we can't grow taller anymore, even though many of us have a tendency to continue to expand horizontally. Our potential for spiritual advancement is however unlimited. Spiritually, how “tall” we become depends on our own desire and how much we draw on the provisions of our heavenly Father. We are not held back by the genes we inherited from our earthly parents. For the believer, there is no limit to growth.

Moreover, II Pet. 3:18 makes us understand the secret of growth as believers, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge .... We must pay careful attention to the intake of the undiluted Word of God and pure doctrines. How tall, blessed and strong are you in God's sight? How much have you developed this year? Whatever is your answer, you can be more and stronger. It is the desire of God that we grow more like Jesus, day by day. Drawing close to Jesus more and more produces a growth that is Christ-like.
The Scripture highlights some important issues about Christian growth. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Eph 4: 12- 15.

(i) We grow spiritually by speaking the truth; that is, confessing the Word of God and making it our own word. (ii) Growth delivers us from instability and deception because it takes us from childhood to adulthood in God: v 14. (iii) Harmony with others; it is only when we are growing that we can be in unity of faith with other believers and overcome immaturity, division, strife and spiritual dwarfness: v13. (iv) Growth is also essential for spiritual service and being a blessing in the Kingdom work: v12. Spiritual growth of the believer enhances the Kingdom of God on earth.

Prayer/Action
* I receive grace to grow spiritually and physically, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Father, let the hunger and thirst for Your Word and fellowship with others increase in my life now, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Lord Jesus, help me to apply Your Word always to every situation of my life.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I receive the ability to break forth on the right and on the left, in the name of Jesus.