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THE GROWTH OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

SCRIPTURE READINGS
EZEKIEL 17:22-24
2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-17
MARK 4:26-34

The theme for our reflection is “the growth of the Christian life” What is the Christian life? The Christian life is a life of discipleship. It is becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ and following His perfect examples in pleasing God. We shall reflect on the following facts about the growth of the Christian life.
1. It is impossible to experience the growth of the Christian life without regeneration in Christ.
2. The growth of the Christian life must be progressive.
3. The growth of the Christian life must be productive.

Firstly, we cannot experience growth in our Christian lives unless we experience regeneration through our Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, Paul wrote that Jesus “… died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:15,17). Beloved in the Lord, no one can experience growth in his or her Christian life unless he or she has a relationship with Jesus through repentance, regeneration, and faith and continues to abide by His teachings. Paul experienced spiritual rebirth and growth when he testified, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Anyone who desires to experience growth in his or her Christian life must first invite Jesus into his or her life. We may lack growth in our Christian life although we may be part of the church for many years. Being a member of the church alone is not a sign of growth in our Christian lives but in addition, we must accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and walk in the will of God as seen in the teachings and examples of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secondly, the growth of the Christian life must be progressive and not retrogressive. Just like the assurance given to Israelites by God through Prophet Ezekiel, God has the power to cause progressive growth in our Christian life as seen in the example of the cedar tree “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.” (Ezekiel 17:22-23). With Jesus in our lives and through the grace and power of God at work in our lives, we shall experience steady and progressive growth in our Christian lives. No wonder Paul declared, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Consequently, Paul gave us an indication of the progressive growth of his Christian life when he wrote, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (1 Corinthians 13:11). Our Christian life grows progressively through our walk with Jesus Christ. We must make Jesus our companion all the days of our lives to keep our spiritual growth sustained through the prayer and study of His Word.

Thirdly, apart from the regeneration and progressive growth of our Christian lives, another sign of the growth of our Christian life is its productiveness. Our Christian lives must be as productive as the Kingdom of God. Our Christian lives must grow and become productive and beneficial like the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29). Again, our Christian life must be productive like the cedar tree. Like the productivity of the cedar tree, “Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.” (Ezekiel 17:23). Just as the Kingdom of God is like a seed planted and grows to become a productive ripe grain to be harvested, so must our Christian lives grow and become productive to others and worthy of the Kingdom of God. In addition, just like the cedar tree becomes beneficial to birds so must our Christian lives be. Others must experience the love and glory of God through us when they encounter us. We also see the productivity of our Christian life captured in Luke 4:18-19 when Jesus quoted from the book of Isaiah and declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” Our Christian life must yield the same result in the world. The world can only experience the growth of our Christian life if it is productive. We must stand for love, peace, reconciliation, integrity, justice, the salvation of those who are lost and dying sin, and respect for human dignity wherever we find ourselves as Christians. It is for this reason Jesus said to His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).

In summary, we have discovered that It is impossible to experience the growth of the Christian life without regeneration in Christ, the growth of the Christian life must be progressive, and last but not least, the growth of the Christian life must be productive. After we have grown or fully matured in our Christian lives, It is my hope that the Lord will commend and reward when He returns with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! … Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:23) May the Holy Spirit empower us to experience regenerative, progressive and productive growth in our Christian lives. Amen.