Grow.

27 Feb Grow.

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, … we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” Ephesians 4:14-15 (NASB)

Praise God, there’s a lot of growing going on around here! The children in our house and in the Weeks’ house just keep getting bigger. They do new things and learn new things every day. It’s exciting and a privilege to watch. I’ve watched first steps, heard first words, watched children learn to read and write and seen a LOT of children get taller. I’ve seen children improve their manners, make friends and learn how a Godly family should work. I’ve witnessed children, not related by blood, merge into a family with aunts and cousins, and that’s just the beginning. God is still working and causing a lot of growth around here. We are super excited to begin sewing classes for people in our community this week and look forward to opening a medical clinic onsite next month. But, that’s still just the beginning of our growth. God never steps back and thinks, “Well, that’s all I can do there. It’s as big as it can get now. I can stop growing the people there”. NO, He’s always working and He’s always growing us.

All this growth led me to consider 2 Peter, chapter 1, verses 5 through 8 –

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NASB)

For a child, physical growth occurs very naturally. It really doesn’t take a lot of effort; when they eat well, stay hydrated and get enough sleep, growth occurs. Sure, they may experience some growing pains, because it’s happening so fast, or get a few stretch marks for the same reasons, but it doesn’t require much discipline or effort on the child’s part to grow physically.

Spiritual growth isn’t quite as easy. It does take effort on our part. It takes work, patience and faith. Paul wrote the Corinthians about this very matter-

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, NASB).

Clearly the people in this church weren’t growing as quickly as Paul had hoped. What had they forgotten? What were they doing wrong? Why wasn’t God growing them?

2^nd Peter talks about the natural progression our spiritual growth should take. First, our faith should produce virtue or moral excellence. We should keep our word and be trustworthy. As we continue to develop our moral character, we increase in knowledge, because we are growing closer to Christ. The more we know about Jesus, the better off we’ll be. After knowledge comes self-control, possibly because we have to understand ourselves and the character of God before we can really allow Him to provide us with self-control. Next, our self-control creates an environment in us that fosters perseverance. As we persevere during trials, we gain a greater understanding of who God is. Knowing God’s character causes us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. And finally, love grows in us as we know our Savior more and more.

Hebrews also addresses this issue in chapter 5, verses 12-14:

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” (NASB)

We must be diligent and practice our faith in order to discern good and evil. I must admit that there have been instances when I wanted God to work faster in my heart, in someone else’s heart or in allowing us to care for more vulnerable children. God wanted to grow my faith first. He’s taught me that He really is capable and more than happy to supply all my needs and the needs of my family. I’ve seen Him provide Eric with a new type of insulin that stopped him from having very low blood sugars at night. I’ve seen Him provide friends for my children. I’ve seen Him provide for our food and transportation. I’ve seen Him provide us with a safe, clean home. It was in learning to trust for these most basic needs that I really learned to love and walk with God. Nothing is too small or too large for Him. He will pay our bills, He will keep us healthy, and, if He doesn’t, I can trust there is a sovereign, loving reason. This is the faith I needed before He could let us grow.

Peter talks about specific steps our faith should go through. Spiritual growth is not unlike physical growth- God must lay a foundation before He can begin to build walls. I can’t tell you how God will grow you. I don’t know what things you will endure in order for your faith to be fully mature (James 1:4), but I do know they are all worth it. Every difficulty, every moment of doubt, every desire left unmet, will be worth it. Why you ask? Because the result is a deeper knowledge and understanding of our Lord. The result is a deeper, stronger faith that allows us to fully trust in the will and strength of our heavenly Father. He alone is worthy of all our praise.

So, don’t give up. Keep believing, keep trusting, keep the faith. God is working and growing you in ways you can’t imagine. Thank you for your prayers and support. I am confident that we will continue to have exciting news to share with you about how God is growing all of us here at the Sparrow Missions Children’s Home. His word promises us that if we seek Him, He will be found (Jeremiah 29:13). It also promises that if we strive to know Him better, He will cause us to grow (John 15:5). Let’s grow together!