As most of you know I’m concerned for and passionate about spiritual growth. I find myself burdened by a desire to see each individual person at SWAG grow spiritually and that the nature of Jesus would be formed in their life.
Spiritual growth is best compared to ‘health’ then it is to just growth. Good physical health doesn’t just happen. It takes diligence and intentional action for good health to happen. Good health takes work when it is easy and exciting and we’re inspired. Good health also takes work when we find ourselves in the middle of the drudgery of life. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen naturally. Spiritual growth takes work and lots of it.
The Apostle Peter wrote to the first century believers encouraging them to be diligent in the drudgery. It is pretty easy to work hard when we are inspired, when there is a looming deadline or when we have a goal to achieve. Working hard and being disciplined is not so easy in the drudgery.
Peter wrote: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 HCSB)
Notice his words: MAKE EVERY EFFORT. Those are diligence, hard work and discipline words.
Don’t let yourself be weighed down though. Even in the area of discipline God wants to work. One of the Fruits of the Spirit is Self-control. Self-control is something produced by the Holy Spirit when we yield and cooperate with Him.
Jesus, teach us how to be diligent, hardworking and disciplined in the times of drudgery. Holy Spirit, create the fruit of self-control that we might grow spiritually. Amen
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