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The Oxford English Dictionary describes the word “grow” as: “become larger or greater over a period of time.” As Christians, we need to become “larger” and “greater” in maturity, service, and influence as time goes by. Please seriously consider these Scriptures that mention growing, increasing, and even abounding:
- We are to grow in knowledge (Col. 1:10; 2 Pet. 3:18).
- We are to grow in faith (2 Thess. 1:3).
- We are to grow in hope (Rom. 15:13).
- We are to grow in love (Phil. 1:9; 1 Thess. 3:12).
- We are to grow in our daily walk with God (1 Thess. 4:1).
- We are to grow in giving (2 Cor. 8:7).
- We are to grow in good works (1 Cor. 15:58).
- We are to grow in bearing fruit (John 15:2-8).
Christians, God expects us to go and grow! We all need to grow up (i.e. growing closer and closer to heaven’s ideals).
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:5-10)
Edd Sterchi