The Path to Growth

Growing to be all that God desires you be is the result of many strands, or decisions that you make on a daily basis. To grow spiritually does not happen by chance or as the result of good genes. To grow into maturity is not the end of the process but rather it is part of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in you. The goal is to experience a “transformed” life that has so radically changed that the result is a new set of values and purposes. We live to the glory of God through difficult circumstances and heart-wrenching suffering.

We come to this level of maturity in Jesus because we have “tasted and seen” that who God is, is more satisfying to us than anything the world could ever hope to offer us. Before we experience this transformation, we have our eyes on everything the world (money, possessions), our flesh (illicit sex outside the boundaries God has set), and our pride (position, authority, self-determinism) are the “treasures” of our heart. We realize that not one of anyone of those can ultimately dispossess God as the King of our hearts.

As we grow towards becoming all that God desires and designs us to be, we must make small decisions that have huge ramifications on how we use our time, who will we allow to influence our priorities in life, and who will have the last word on EVERY decision we make. To grow into a person who is experiencing a transformed life and set of values, everyday we reorient our lives around God’s Word, prayer, and personal accountability. Therefore, I become a member of a community of faith that will encourage me to grow in Jesus, participate in a life group that will pray for me, and excercise my spiritual gifts to help others grow.

A transformed life is not about me, ultimately, it is centered on the Lord, and growing as a member of the community of faith as we all strive to practice the transformed spiritual life.  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38). It is about becoming all that God desires you to be. I have learned in my short life that it is NOT about what I want but it is all about living for the Lord and serving others.

Are you in the path of being transformed? Are the priorities of your life changing toward what God desires for you to be? Here are the words of invitation that the Word of God compels us with to grow, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and pleasing to God– this is your true and proper worship. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)