YOUR CHOICE
Ephesians 4:14-16
Ephesians 4:14-15: “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, But, speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—"
Because it’s so important that people grow in their faith, this devotion presents a choice. Believers have the responsibility to grow up in Christ after salvation, if they choose to do so. It’s cool to grow up spiritually.
It’s mysterious.
It’s relationship building with Jesus and His Spirit.
It’s totally your choice.
Growing spiritually is believer’s cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s transforming us into Christlikeness from the inside out. We don’t just listen passively to a sermon every week, agreeing that’s good stuff. We take action!
This takes time, attention (meditation) and commitment. God—Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, the Father’s forgiveness of all sin, past, present and future, and Holy Spirit’s transforming work—does the heavy lifting. The rest of the work is your choice.
The quickest and surest way to spiritual growth is enduring hard times. No one wants hardship. But when we see difficulties as a chance for personal growth, we can thank God for seeing us thorough them—instead of complaining.
God gives us His Spirit and new life after salvation; we are responsible to renew old outdated minds. Learning and adopting Spiritual thinking is done by reading God’s Word and considering what the message means to us (meditation). Then DO what it says.
Confessing sin immediately after the Holy Spirit prodding is action. Repentance is turning the opposite way the sin led us (about face). We should never need to re-confess sin that we’ve already repented. How can we make the same mistake when we’ve already turned away from it? Or…were you just joking the first time?
Believers need to believe an honest objective view of ourselves through accountability partner’s eyes. Ask a fellow believer to tell you about yourself. “Yeah, you really DO yell when someone disagrees with your opinion,” is honest feedback from an accountability partner. How else would you correct an action you’re constantly repeating if no one tells you?
Take Home Nugget
The second part of the opening scripture is vital: “speaking the truth in love.” Pointing out another’s faults is confrontational. It takes courage. It often leads to arguments. So accountability partners must agree to listen, and not respond or defend words or deeds.
Love does not criticize. Love is spoken softly with best intentions for growth. Believers must value accountability partner’s advice.
The Holy Spirit is the best accountability partner. He’s honest and loving. Just stop doing it! Your choice.
J.D. Griffith
Written for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.
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