The Call To Grow
A couple of years back, I planted a rogue redbud tree in my front yard. It was questionable whether that tree would make it. But now, that tree has grown and is budding out on all of its limbs. That tree was created to grow like that. It is merely doing what it was made to do.
You and I, as new creations in Christ, are created to grow up in Him. There’s no such thing as a disciple who is meant to stay the same and never grow spiritually.
A child of God is meant to be growing up in Christ, always abounding, always increasing in their revelation knowledge of Him, and gaining ground in their walk in the Spirit, experiencing victory as a result. It doesn’t mean they will never experience challenges or potential temporary hindrances that will be used to facilitate growth and increase through the victory faith and rest produce. Tribulations, trials, and persecutions are promised to believers who truly stand in faith and grow. But in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him, who loved us and called us according to His purpose.
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Spiritual growth is the result of intentionally pressing into Him. It is the fruit of pursuing Him with diligence. After all, He is the vine, and we are the branches. A branch cannot thrive and produce fruit unless it abides in the vine. Abiding in Him is more than just a moment set aside each day without distraction. It is a way of life for the believer to be continually aware of who He is and who they are and in a present state of mind and heart to be available and surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
It is the ability to truly know which things are of greatest value and which things to hold loosely or to let go altogether. There is an upward call for every believer in Jesus. That upward call is what will cause growth and fruit-bearing with abundance. The upward call is to walk according to the Spirit, and doing so will always bear His fruit. A spiritually growing believer in Jesus cannot hide who they are. The fruit is plain for all to see. The steady increase in their lives cannot be hidden. They will not be found in the same spiritual stature they were just last year or the year before. They are growing and increasing in Him. I want to press towards the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I pray you do as well. Press in to know Him better, meditate on His word, follow the lead of the Spirit, and enjoy fellowship with Him as you go through your day. You’re called to grow!
