Thursday, February 19, 2015

Grow Up (in the Lord)

Life is about growing! Death happens when you stop, John tells us in 1 John 2:12–14, I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.  I am writing to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.  I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Here are 3 signs on how you tell if someone is spiritually dying on the inside:
1. They stop learning. They stop coming to church and small group. They are not allowing themselves to go deeper in God’s Word or exposing themselves to teaching through reading, sermons, etc..
2. They stop maturing. Their character isn’t growing in Christ or becoming more patient, thoughtful, or helpful.
3. They stop caring about leading others to Christ, social injustice, hurting, morality, and dying people.

In John’s definition for spiritual life, God’s children are those who have received Jesus. They’ve had their sins forgiven by receiving Christ and they know God. Spiritual young men are strong because they are regularly reading God’s word, and they are involved in the cause of Christ, advancing his kingdom and thereby “overcome the evil one.” This is part of spiritual growth - growing in faith, obedience, and maturity.


Don’t die spiritually- keep growing!