Chapter 277—Conditions of Christian Growth
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in
knowledge and in all judgment; ... being filled with the fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God.
Philippians 1:9-11
.
Where there is life, there will be growth and fruit-bearing; but unless we
grow in grace, our spirituality will be dwarfed, sickly, fruitless. It is only by
growing, by bearing fruit, that we can fulfill God’s purpose for us. “Herein
is my Father glorified,” Christ said, “that ye bear much fruit” (
John 15:8
). In
order to bear much fruit, we must make the most of our privileges. We must
use every opportunity granted us for obtaining strength.
A pure, noble character, with all its grand possibilities, has been provided
for every human being. But there are many who have not an earnest longing
for such a character. They are not willing to part with the evil that they may
have the good.... They neglect to grasp the blessings that would place them
in harmony with God.... They cannot grow.
One of the divine plans for growth is impartation. The Christian is to gain
strength by strengthening others. “He that watereth shall be watered also
himself” (
Proverbs 11:25
). This is not merely a promise; it is a divine law, a
law by which God designs that the streams of benevolence, like the waters of
the great deep, shall be kept in constant circulation, continually flowing back
to their source. In the fulfilling of this law is the secret of spiritual growth....
If we come to God in faith, He will receive us and give us strength to
climb upward to perfection. If we watch every word and action, that we
may do nothing to dishonor the One who has trusted us, if we improve every
opportunity granted us, we shall grow into the full stature of men and women
in Christ....
Christians, is Christ revealed in us? Are we doing all in our power to
gain a body that is not easily enfeebled, a mind that looks beyond self to the
cause and effect of every movement, that can wrestle with hard problems and
conquer them, a will that is firm to resist evil and defend the right? Are we
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