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The Mystery of Spiritual Growth, August 31
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13
.
If the followers of Christ were but earnest seekers after wisdom, they
would be led into rich fields of truth, as yet wholly unknown to them. He
who will give himself to God as fully as did Moses, will be guided by the
divine hand as verily as was the great leader of Israel. He may be lowly
and apparently ungifted; yet if with a loving, trusting heart he obeys every
intimation of God’s will, his powers will be purified, ennobled, energized,
and his capabilities will be increased. As he treasures the lessons of divine
wisdom, a sacred commission will be entrusted to him; he will be enabled to
make his life an honor to God and a blessing to the world....
Today many are as ignorant of the Holy Spirit’s work upon the heart
as were those believers in Ephesus (see
Acts 19:1-6
); yet no truth is more
clearly taught in the Word of God. Prophets and apostles have dwelt upon
this theme. Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable
world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life.
The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches,
sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power
of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews
the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to
the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.
The Author of this spiritual life is unseen, and the exact method by which
that life is imparted and sustained, is beyond the power of human philosophy
to explain. Yet the operations of the Spirit are always in harmony with the
written Word. As in the natural, so in the spiritual world. The natural life is
preserved moment by moment by divine power; yet it is not sustained by a
direct miracle, but through the use of blessings placed within our reach. So
the spiritual life is sustained by the use of those means that Providence has
supplied. If the follower of Christ would grow up “unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (
Ephesians 4:13
), he must
eat of the bread of life, and drink of the water of salvation.—
The Review and
Herald, August 31, 1911
.
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