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.