2 Peter 1:3-10 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
‘Personal growth’ in Jesus is ESSENTIAL for your soul! It is how God designed us to live on this earth in harmony with all things! When everything is growing in our lives there is no time to investigate the negative of life and yet we hear every day of another Christian that has fallen into the world and away from God.
We spend too much time focusing on that kind of stuff when really God calls us to focus on our own selves and grow our own personal relationship with Him to the point that we can look past the world and see the beauty of where we will spend eternity.
In order for ‘Personal Growth’ to take place we have to experience the abundant life in Christ in a moment by moment way! Our mental, emotional, physical and relational elements – those things INSIDE of us MUST grow toward Christ.
If we are striving to obey the command of the above Scripture; then we will see personal growth in a way that we are effective in the lives of our children, our spouse, our family, workplace and every other place we might be in!
God’s Plan is perfect and when we are placing value on our personal growth with Him; we see it at work and just like laying steps on a frame of stairs; each one brings us closer to the top or in the case of a Christian – closer to the Lord and eternity!
Here are some ways that we can measure where our ‘Personal Growth’ in the Lord is and where we need to improve and grow!
© Focus ~ What are we doing today that is helping us be a better Christian? In order to grow ‘personally’ we must be INTENTIONAL in our focus. Have you noticed that we go where we are looking? We naturally gravitate to where our focus is. James 1:25
© Fruit ~ What are the fruits of our spiritual lives? Do we see the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ active in our lives? Are we growing what God says to grow so that the ‘fruit’ is evident to us as well as others? Galatians 5:22-25
© Fun ~ Do we have fun in our Christian walk? Is there laughter in our house? Do we enjoy each day as a gift from God or are we cursing the day – is everything ‘wrong’ or is everything ‘right’? There should be joy and laughter abundant as we journey toward eternity. God desires us to ENJOY this life! Psalm 16:11
© Foundations ~ Are we studying to increase our knowledge base or are we relying on just what we hear and do at church? The foundations of our lives should be personal with God! It should be a growth experience that takes place between us and the Lord ONLY! Our foundation must be strong in the Lord and that only happens through personal growth – building that foundation with God one step at a time! 2 Timothy 2:15
© Friends & Family ~ Are we ‘growing’ our family toward the Lord? Are we extending the same love that Christ gave us to our families and friends? Are our relationships with others strong and healthy in the Lord? Do we pray for our friends? Has God convicted us on which friends we should have? Do we have friends that we talk about the Lord with and grow in those relationships? Proverbs 27:17
© Finish ~ What will our ‘FINISH’ be? What will our personal growth level be when we cross the finish line to see Jesus? How we finish will show the evidence of what we have loved in this life! Acts 20:24 says it so beautifully!
What will our finish be? It tells the story of where our personal growth is! It is my prayer that you are faithful to the Lord and desire Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! That the Power of the Lord is evident in your lives and that you are on a path to grow in Him to the point that others see Christ in you thereby sealing the foundation that Christ has laid out in you!
Paul says it so well in Timothy…2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Even in his departing this life; he wanted others to know how much God loved them and what their reward was going to be! He gave them strength by showing them what personal growth had done for him and that it all ultimately would bring others to the Lord. Can we say that tonight!
Grow in your personal walk with Jesus to the point that God is evident to all! You reap the benefit of a relationship and others get an opportunity to see Jesus!
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