Day 23: How we grow

..::*+ Small Talk +*::..

Rush rush rush... Hostel internet down. So having troubles in posting up entries.

*Or was it just an excuse?*

**I guess so. =(

Should have done better. Sigh.

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Day 23: How we grow

And of course, God does not just expect you to say, "Yes, I believe in Jesus!" and that's all. No, He wants you to grow up. Grow into Christlike. And of course, growing up is our conscious choice. It takes intentional commitment.

You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.
Rick Warren -The Purpose Driven Life

The process of becoming Christlike - discipleship - always begin with a decision. Jesus called us, and we say, "yes, I'll follow you".

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
Matthew 9:9

Notice what is special here? Matthew did not ask, "Jesus of Nazareth, why should I follow you?" but instead he just follow. And that's all we need also: Decide to become a disciple.

Commitments in life can either develop you or destroy you, but either way, it will define you. But here is where many people miss God's purpose for their lives. They commit nothing at all; Or they vow half-hearted commitments; Or they make full commitments to worldly goals - wealthy, famous... which ended up disappointed and bitter.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.
2. Peter 3:11

So back to the question: How?

God's part and your part. Of course Christlikeness is the result of making Christlike choices and depending on his Spirit to help you fulfill those choices. To do so, we will need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, and intentionally change the way you think. One thing for sure, the Holy Spirit will give you a hand.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13

Notice again the two keywords here - work in and work out? Work out is your responsibility, and the work in is God's role.

Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

It's interesting here, you see, that in that verse it does not say "work for" your salvation. Why? Because it has been done - the whole point of Jesus' death on the cross. Instead it says "work out". Why? It's just like when you're solving a puzzle, you "work it out", and you already have all the pieces there, and now you need to combine them together.

God has given you a new life; now you are responsible to develop it "with fear and trembling".
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Fear and tremble? It means, take your spiritual growth seriously. Understand the eternal implication.

Changing your autopilot.

Behind everything you do is a thought. Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Above all else, guard you heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

We do not try to change our lives with force, our own force. Because you will feel constant resistance, and changing the surface does not change the root cause. So things might be a good start for you, but it will eventually go back to the same old way - the way that you don't want. But there's a better way - Change the way you think. Transform yourself into a new person by changing the way you think. It is also the first step in spiritual growth.

The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life

Develop the mind of Christ. And this calls repentance in Bible. How? There are two points to remember:
1. Stop thinking immature thoughts.

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in you thinking be adults.
1. Corinthians 14:20

Do not think of yourselves like a baby.

Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want.
Romans 8:5 New Century Version

2. Start thinking maturely. Focus on others, not yourself.

A lot of people assume that spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of biblical knowledge we have. Yes, but it is only one measurement of maturity. One thing to remember is that Christianity is a relationship and a lifestyle. And thinking of others is the heart of Christlikeness and the best evidence of spiritual growth. Sounds hard, don't it? But rejoice:

God has given us his Spirit. That's why we don't think the same way that the people of this world think.
1. Corinthians 2:12a Contemporary English Version

Vincent