Pursue Avenues of Spiritual Growth

The beautiful path is the path to spiritual maturity. Over the next several posts, we will look at three keys on that path. The first key is to Pursue Avenues of Spiritual Growth.

While the Spirit is at work in the life of every true believer, and no growth happens apart from His work, that does not mean that the path to spiritual maturity requires no effort on the part of the believer. Quite the contrary.

Philippians 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul sets the example for us as we press on along God’s path.

The Spirit’s work and the believer’s work are demonstrated in Colossians 1:29
And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Paul is laboring, toiling to the point of exhaustion, and striving, an athletic term from which we get the English word agonize, but it is all according to God’s power which is mightily working in him. That needs to be our practice as well. John MacArthur says, “All his toil and hard labor would have been useless apart from God’s power in his life.”

1 Timothy 4:7 tells us to discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.

The Greek word for discipline here is gymnazo, from which we get gymnasium. It is speaking of training. This is a time of year when many people are starting a new fitness regimen. It is a great time to start or rethink your spiritual fitness regimen. To make progress along the beautiful path, the path to spiritual maturity, we need to exercise our spiritual muscles, and that takes discipline.

We want to be actively pursuing avenues of spiritual growth. We could discuss many profitable spiritual disciplines, such as worship, evangelism, serving, and giving. But in upcoming posts I want to focus on just two—God’s Word and prayer. Both are key elements to any spiritual exercise program.

The Beautiful Path

When you become a Christian you begin a great journey, which will culminate when you enter the glorified state to spend eternity with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One day we will finally be like Him. Our sin, and selfishness, and struggles with the flesh will be gone forever. Hallelujah! But it is a journey, we do not get their overnight.

2 Corinthians 3:18 puts it this way:
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

The Spirit is at work in our lives, conforming us to the image of Christ.

In the next several posts, I am going to discuss the path to spiritual maturity.

What does this path look like? The Psalms describe this path in a number of ways.
Psalm 16:11 calls it the path of life
Psalm 23:3 refers to paths of righteousness
Psalm 25:10 says, "All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth "
Psalm 27:11 calls it a level path

Sounds like a pretty good place to be! When we go the way God has designed for us to go, it truly is a beautiful path.

God is at work, leading us along His path, and we, like Paul, can be confident that the Lord will complete His work in us.

Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Does that just mean we sit back and let the Spirit work? What part do we play in this great journey?

We'll look at that next time.