Grow Or Die

By Chad McComas

One Christian leader comments that a healthy plant will grow. An unhealthy plan dies. There is nothing in between. Obvious…right?

A healthy Christian will grow as well….and never stops. The Holy Spirit pours on the nourishment and the believer grows. If a Christian believes s/he is finished growing that’s the time s/he begins to die. We can’t grow and die at the same time.

Why grow? That’s the nature of our experience with God. He never stops teaching us. He never stops changing us. We never get “finished” we are always a masterpiece being crafted. God has plans for us…remember what Jeremiah says about this? “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Sounds like the growth is ongoing and promised.

Jesus talked much about growth. Remember the parable of the sower, the seeds and the soil in Matthew 13? The soil that was best was the one that allowed the seed to take hold and grow. The good soil was one who “hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:23

As believers, citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are called to produce, we are called to grow. It is a never-ending call and quest in our lives. Solomon talks about seeking after wisdom. Wisdom teaches us valuable lessons that open our minds and understanding and allows us to grow in our walk with God and our personal integrity and character.

Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 Hunger and thirst are growing pains of those seeking after God. We never have enough. We are never finished in our journey.

We are either growing or we are not. And when we are not, we are dying.

So, what are we doing to grow? Are we taking time daily to “feed” on God’s Word? Are we taking time during the week to meet with fellow believers to share and grow? Are we stretching ourselves in taking opportunities to talk to others about Jesus? Are we listening to others and soaking in nourishment wherever we can get it?

There are no stagnant Christians who grow…they usually just slowly die.

I want my friends to grow. I want my church to grow. I want ministries to grow. I want the Kingdom to grow. How do I help others grow? I must choose to grow myself. I’m the only one who can make that decision. If I choose to grow…I will with the power of the Holy Spirit. If I don’t choose to grow….I will die.

“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 4:6

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

It is our choice…to grow.

Chad McComas writes from Medford, Oregon. info@thechristianjournal.org