Day 23 Message

      
Day 23 Readings

Day 23 - How We Grow

Many Christians don't grow because they don't ever plan on growing. It's usually not that they don't want to grow, but growth doesn't happen by accident. Growth is a result of time spent working towards something.

Deciding to grow is only the first step. We must be willing to commit to growth. Growth will probably be uncomfortable and inconvenient. When we realize this and work towards it anyway, that is when we learn whether we really want to get closer to God or if we are just pretending and playing games. We can make excuses about how we are busy or tired or whatever, but if you want to get close to God you will figure out how to get around those things. If you don't care about your relationship with God, you won't change anything.

We need to be clear that we cannot earn our salvation. Salvation comes from Christ's death on the cross, and it is a gift for us to accept. Salvation is where we begin our new lives, but so many Christians stop there. We are given a new life, but we need to develop it. What if a baby chose never to eat? It wouldn't get very far, would it? That is where so many Christians are. If you are saved yet don't do anything to grow, you are like that baby who will never develop, and that new life that God offers won't become what it was designed to become. And life will be pretty miserable.

If we are going to change, we must begin at the beginning. Just trying really hard won't make it happen. We have to change our thoughts. If we want to grow up, we have to start thinking about things beyond ourselves. We must realize that our life will never be complete by focusing on ourselves, and that by thinking about the needs of others we grow.

Thinking about my purpose:
Know. It isn't too late to start growing.
Remember. "Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God- what is good and pleasing to him and is perfect." -Romans 12.2b (TEV)
Think about it. What is one thing I need to stop thinking about my way, and start to think about God's way starting today?

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