Growth Requires Growing!

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. “Growth requires growing” means that for a thing to grow, it needs to be actively engaged in the process of development, change, and improvement. Growing in a relationship with God is what being a disciple of Jesus is all about. It involves a deepening of faith, understanding, and commitment, often characterized by growth in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), wisdom, and a closer connection with God. It's a journey of learning and striving to embody the teachings and values of Jesus. To mature in a relationship with God, we need shared experiences with God’s person, and God’s commandments. God wants to share His life with our life. God desires to give us a deeper experience of spiritual intimacy. In other words, we can sense the closeness of God in a more real way, not merely in an academic or intellectual way. Our time spent with God is based on the testimonies of the apostles in Scripture through their teaching and their example. In Scripture, we see the intimate relationship Jesus and His apostles had with one another as Jesus shared His life fully with them. We need shared experiences with God’s precepts or guidelines found in His Word. As we learn from Scripture how to deepen our relationship with God, we will have an enhanced experience of His love toward us. Let’s look at an example of this shared experience and it’s results. Jesus says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him” (John 14:21). Having and keeping God’s commandments is the mark of mature believers! When the commandments of God are being kept with the carefulness of a diligent heart, the spiritual conditions are right for the Father and the Son to disclose or make themselves known to a maturing disciple. What results from this shared experience is a genuine knowledge of the Father and the Son that indeed will flow into the person who has and keeps His commandments! And, the longer one fellowships with God in this manner, the deeper and richer this knowing of God becomes! It just doesn’t get any better. Be encouraged!