That Ye May Grow

That Ye May Grow

1 Peter 1:22 - 2:3

God has created life in such a way that all things living naturally grow and develop. From that moment of conception to the close of our earthly days, we grow. This is the pattern of life. We grow. This is true in our physical life and it ought to be equally true in our spiritual life. God has designed the spiritual life to be a life marked by growth and development. But is it not strange to you that we quickly recognize any deficiency in physical growth and yet give very little thought to our lack of spiritual growth. The truth is we not only ignore it; we have accepted it as being the norm. This is the day in which we live.

Charles Spurgeon, the famed pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London made this observation in the late 1800’s when he came in contact with a community of small framed men.

“There was once in London a club of small men, whose qualification for membership lay in their not exceeding five feet in height; these men held, or pretended to hold, the opinion that they were nearer the perfection of manhood than others, for they argued that primeval men had been far more gigantic than the present race, and consequently the way of progress was to grow less and less, and the human race as it perfected itself would become as diminutive as themselves. Such a club of Christians might be established, and without any difficulty might attain to an enormously numerous membership; for the notion is common that our dwarfish Christianity is after all the standard, and many even imagine that nobler Christians are enthusiasts, fanatical and hot-blooded; while we are cool because we are wise, and indifferent because intelligent. We must get rid of this nonsense. The fact is, the most of us are vastly inferior to the early Christians…”

It is amazing to think that his observations are 140 years old! Not much has changed. If it has, I would think it has gotten worse. For most Christians, we are so accustomed to not growing we are content to remain as new born babes. And we look upon those who are growing with suspicion. But God’s will for all of His children is that we grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is God’s will for you! And for me!

The question then that is raised is: “How do I grow?” Notice again the passage before us this morning. Peter speaks expressly when he wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Peter knew what was needed for growth and he calls his reader’s attention to it.

Do you want to grow? Do you want to progress in in your walk with God? In these few verses Peter highlight 3 things that are necessary for growth.

That Ye May Grow:

1. Appreciate the Word of God

Peter identifies the primary source of Christian growth as being the Word of God. He places much value on the Scripture in this crucial area. How well do you esteem the Bible? What value do you place upon it? Consider how others have expressed their appreciation of the Word of God.

Notice the Lord’s estimation of its worth in Psalm 138:2

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

David said in Psalm 19:10 that the Word of God is:

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Paul gave this summation of the importance and effect of the Bible when he wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The late Dr R G Lee, former pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis TN expressed the value of God’s Word in this way:

"The Bible is a book beyond all books as a river is above and beyond a rivulet. The Bible is a book beyond all books as the sun is above and beyond a candle in brightness. The Bible is a book beyond all books as the wings of an eagle is above and beyond the wings of a sparrow. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, immeasurable in influence, infinite in scope, divine in authorship, human in penmanship, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, and inspired in totality. This is the Book that has walked more paths, travelled more highways, knocked at more doors and spoken to more people in their mother tongue than in other book this world has ever known or will know."