Climbing or Slipping?

A father was talking with his daughter and her five-year-old-friend, Kristin, about birthdays. As it turned out, Kristin’s birthday was just three days after his birthday. So he said to the little girl, "You know what, Kristin? Our birthdays are only three days apart!"

She looked at him for a moment and said, "Yeah, but you grew much faster than I did."

Why is it that we see more spiritual growth in the lives of some followers of Jesus and less in others? Every believer is either progressing or regressing spiritually. We are either growing, or we are drawing back. We are either gaining ground, or we are losing ground. It has been said the Christian life is like a greased pole: you are either climbing or slipping.

The bottom line is that it is really up to you as to whether you will grow spiritually. While it is true that God wants us to grow in our faith and wants us to deepen our knowledge of Him, He has also given us a free will. When we get ourselves aligned with the will of God and start walking accordingly, spiritual growth will begin to take place. So if you want to do the things that lead to spiritual growth, you will do them. You will make time for what is important.

And what is God looking for in our lives? He wants to see spiritual fruit. That is what it is all about: being a fruitful Christian, a growing believer. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . . " (John 15:16).

So how are you doing in that regard? Are you bearing fruit? Are you growing spiritually?