Thoughts from The Bible: – 04/29/20

Thoughts from the Bible

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 13:43

A man’s growth toward God
by Terry Broome

One of the great needs of the day is a vision of the possibilities of the soul and how to attain those possibilities. Too many of us are satisfied without growth, blind to what we may become and ignorant of the means of growth. We often fail to visualize the marvelous power God has given us: “The Power To Become The Sons of God!”

This power to grow, to develop, to become, is one of the great characteristics of man as created by God. It elevates him above a brute creation. A monkey will never be anything but a bigger monkey. A tree becomes a larger tree, but mankind has been given by God the power to become more than he or she is. A young bungling surgeon can become the greatest in his field. A young musician can become an artist. Sinners can become sons of God. A babe in Christ has the power to become a spiritual giant in the service of God. John was guided by the Holy Spirit to tell us in John 1:11 – 12 (KJV) 11 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

A world of discovery awaits those who begin and continue this journey with the Lord!! Growth – becoming more than we were yesterday – is designed and intended by God for His children. We’re not speaking of just growth out of sin into salvation. That’s just the beginning. There’s a whole world of possibilities awaiting us in Christ Jesus. Our growth should be toward spirituality maturity.

Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) 15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
Colossians 2:6 – 7 (KJV) 6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) 18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The frustration of not growing, not improving, has its toll secularly and spiritually. This does not have to be the life of the Christian however: 2 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) 16 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

It begins when we hear and answer the Gospel Call, “Come unto me…” (Matthew 11:28-30). That’s where it always begins. It’s the discovery that life is more than working in a store, keeping house, or making money (Eccl. 2:1-13). It’s to see that life is a divine vocation. Ephesians 4:1 (KJV) 1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” It’s to see that a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses: Luke 12:15 (KJV) 15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” This may be the reason many have made no progress. They have not learned, nor taken this first step. Many haven’t even gotten into the game yet so they’re not running the race.

The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489