August 20, 2020 - One of the great themes of the New Testament is the concept of individual spiritual growth. When Paul wrote the letter to the church in Corinth, it was a congregation beset with problems. There was a party spirit and the church was divided into factions. In Chapter 3 he tells them he cannot write unto them as being spiritual because they are carnal. They are still babies spiritually. They have been fed with milk and not with meat because they cannot handle meat.
The Hebrew Christians are told in Chapter 5 that they have reached the point they should be teachers. Yet, they have not grown and need someone to teach them the first principles again. He says they have need of milk and not of strong meat. They are babies.
Peter comes along in I Peter Chapter 2 and tells his readers to lay aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envy, and evil speaking. Instead, they are to desire the sincere milk of the word that they might grow spiritually.
Yet, that was Peter’s first letter. In the second letter, as he brings it to a close there is a further instruction on growth. In Chapter 3 and verse 18 he writes, “go on growing in grace” (Moffat). Now think about those words. There are a lot of people who are born again but never seem to progress much further than infancy. The reason is, that they soon learn to be a “’spiritual couch potato”.
You see, growing in Christ means hard work, commitment, and dedication. Are you up to the task?
It’s something to think about…..tbp
Center Church of Christ
110 Hurst Street
Center, Texas
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
