How To Know If You Are Growing As A Christian?

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN?

By Ptr Glenn Narvaez

We all like to look at babies. We love them whatever their color, size or shapes, boy or girl. They take away our exhaustion whenever we see them. They are great stress reliever. But however cute or lovely they maybe, we would like to see them grow. We like to see them crawl, stand, took their first step and their first fall. These babies will eventually grow if they are healthy. They will undergo developmental milestones (physical, cognitive, socio-emotional and communication) for every stages of their growth.

Obviously, we know their physical milestones such as their large-motor (crawling, standing, sitting) and their fine motor skills (grasping a spoon, holding a crayon, pencil, drawing, and picking up small objects). These are all part of their physical growth. We expect them to see these things along with other developmental milestone such as their cognitive (ability to recognize face, think and solve problems, recognize alphabet), Socio-emotional (understanding their emotions and the emotions of others around them, play with others, relate with others), and their communication skills where they can speak up in a right way, etc.

We expect healthy babies to undergo these milestones. However, if they fail to show these developmental milestones, then, there is something wrong with them. And if we noticed that there is something wrong with them, we bring them to a doctor or a special education teacher to assess and help them.

Someone said all truths are parallel. Just as there are physical laws that govern human life, there are also spiritual laws that govern spiritual life. When we were born in this world, we started a relationship with our parents. That is physical. Spiritually, we need to possess spiritual milestones. The bible speaks of spiritual milestones that we have to manifest to be able to show that we are growing spiritually. What are these milestones or signs of growth that each Christian is expected to show? How to know if we are growing spiritually?

When we received Jesus, God gave us the right to become his children. The bible speaks of having a right to be called a child of God when we received Jesus in our heart (john 1:12). We became born-again and started a new relationship with God and His children. We became a member of the family of God. The bible speaks of ways how to grow as a Christian.

This morning, we will go to the bible and discover Spiritual milestones. These milestones are evidences of spiritual growth that we have to possess to know that we are growing spiritually. Why do we need to grow?

The bible speaks that Christians need to grow. It is both a command and a natural occurrence to a healthy Christian. Just as a healthy baby will automatically grow, a healthy Christian will also automatically grow and possess and show these milestones.

G. R. O. W. T. H. (Borrowed from 4 Spiritual Laws of Campus Crusade)

Scripture: Acts 2:41-47

GO TO GOD IN PRAYER DAILY

The early disciples practiced these habits of praying. In Acts 2:42 shows that Prayer is one of their devotions.

(Acts 2:42 NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

When Jesus was with his disciples, he practiced praying. From time to time, Jesus went to a mountain to pray. (Mark 1:35) It was his daily practiced. And the disciples adapted prayer. It also became their habit.

Prayer is a command and a privilege. The bible commanded us to pray. It is also a privilege to speak to our creator and entrust to Him our needs. Prayer is telling God we are limited and we can’t do it without his power.

READ GOD'S WORD DAILY

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God told them through Joshua to meditate on His laws day and night. God is saying that this is the key of success and prosperity.

(Josh 1:8 NIV) Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The bible is like a map, a milk, a lamp, a seed.

OBEY GOD MOMENT BY MOMENT

Christian life is a Relationship with God. He is our heavenly Father. We expect that in a relationship we need to obey our parents. The same way with God.

(John 14:21 NIV) Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

WITNESS FOR CHRIST BY YOUR LIFE AND LIPS