Bible Passage: Philippians 2:12-13 “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Lately, the Lord has been impressing the importance of spiritual growth and maturity upon my heart. I used to believe that spiritual maturity would naturally develop over time once I gave my life to Christ. However, as time passed, my growth seemed to stall. I found myself repeatedly grappling with the same challenges, like fear and anxiety, with little victory. It became clear that something had to change. Many Christians, like me, have a passive mindset regarding spiritual growth, assuming God will do all the work while we make minimal effort.
However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In a professional setting, one typically needs to exert above-average effort to be considered for a promotion. So, why would we assume that the path to spiritual growth differs? The Word of God tells us that we must “work out our salvation,” meaning we must actively pursue spiritual maturity. One crucial action point and daily habit we must incorporate into our lives is critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that may offend God or tarnish His name (see the Amplified version of this passage). Just because we serve a merciful and forgiving God doesn’t mean we should be passive about sin. Instead, out of deep respect and reverence for God, we must diligently avoid sin and anything that displeases Him daily.
The most remarkable aspect of striving to live a life that pleases God is that we are not alone in this journey. Have you realised that even your desire to grow spiritually comes from God? Verse 13 reminds us that God gives us the desire and the strength to do what pleases Him. Consequently, when we act upon these desires by disciplining ourselves to lead lives that foster spiritual growth, God will empower and support us in successfully achieving this goal.
Therefore, I encourage you to cultivate a lifestyle marked by consistent Bible study, worship, prayer, and obedience to God. In doing so, you will undoubtedly experience a deeper and more profound relationship with God.
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