So we are supposed to bloom where we are planted. We are supposed to be about growing up in maturity so that we won’t be spiritual babies. Even so, it is important to remember that we cannot grow ourselves. This is a work that only God can do. So you might ask, “If we can’t grow ourselves in righteousness, what are we supposed to do?” Well, I’m glad you asked.
The best example I’ve heard is from a book called the Green Letters by Miles Stanford. We all know that a plant cannot grow itself. But if you take a plant and place it in a closet with the lights off and cease to water it, that plant is going to go downhill fast. However, if you take a plant and put it in direct sunlight, water it regularly and even give it plant food, that plant has been put in a position to grow.
It is like that in the Christian life. When a Christian puts himself in the dark places and stops eating spiritual food and being around other believers, that Christian is not going to grow in righteousness. I picture someone who is glued to the TV all of the time and who stops being around God’s people (which has been me in the past). That person is not going to grow. But, the Christian who has deep spiritual friendships, seeks God through prayer and reading the Bible, attends a local gathering for corporate worship, and seeks to love God and others is a person who is putting himself in a place of fertile soil, sunlight, and much good spiritual food.
God will throw in times of darkness and trials, times of joy and victory, along with seasons of doubt and distress. God is using all of these things to grow us and let’s be thankful once again that Philippians 1:6 is true whether we feel like it is or not. “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
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