What does it mean to "grow in Christ?"Does it mean completing a series of studies that increases one's knowledge about Jesus? Is it learning to live by the principles of life that Jesus taught? Is it obeying His commands? Is it learning to do what He would do?
Is it a combination of all of these things?
It is interesting that the Apostle Paul was not so concerned about the Galatian Christians"growing in Christ". He was more concerned that Christ was growing in them!
"My little children, for whom I labor in birth again
until Christ is formed in you..." Gal. 4:19
Perhaps this seemingly minor shift in thinking is the key to knowing how growing in Christ really works.
We start out being somewhat interested in this person called Jesus. We come to a place where we see how what he did for us at Calvary can bring us to a place of forgiveness before God. We accept Jesus as our Savior.
By His Spirit He enters into our spirit. We soon learn that there exists something called the Christian life and Jesus is the key to this kind of life. We want to live the Christian life. We begin to ask the question "What would Jesus do?"
Suddenly we discover that Jesus did not only teach the Christian life, He is the Christian life! We continue on and begin to understand that Jesus in us means the entire Christian life is in us.
As we begin to submit to Jesus' perfect presence and life in us His presence begins to grow in us and we begin to "grow in Christ" because "Christ grows in us." We stop asking "What would Jesus do?" and begin to ask "What is Jesus doing that I can do with Him?"
Finally we begin to say "It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me" and "For to me to live is Christ." As He grows in us we grow in Him.
The best prayer we can pray so Christ will grow in us is "Jesus, you are welcome in me. Grow in me and I will grow in you."
Bud McCord
Abide International
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