For thirty-five years of my Christian life, I never understood that it was my responsibility to learn how to grow in Christ. I assumed that my salvation would automatically make me grow and understand what it means to be Christ’s disciple. Boy, was I wrong!
Jesus Showed Us How to Grow Our Faith
When we look at the life of Jesus, he shows us how crucial it is for us to spend time with our Father, God. Jesus said.
“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19, NIV)
If Jesus only did what he saw his Father doing, we can follow his example by doing what we saw Jesus do in his life by studying the Bible. Jesus made it clear that he had to stay close to his Father and take care of himself so he could teach people about God’s salvation and reap a bountiful harvest. Jesus shared these principles in the parable to help us see how dwelling with him works in our lives. Let’s look at the parable of the Vine and Branches.
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. (John 15:1-5, MSG)
Receiving salvation, going to church, or even reading a few Bible verses will not automatically grow your relationship and faith in Christ. The apostle John tells us that “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26, NIV) Every believer is responsible for learning how to work with Jesus every day.
Our Responsibilities
We must learn how to live out our salvation and mature the seeds of the fruits of the Holy Spirit that were implanted in us at salvation. We must know how to grow deep roots, what to feed our minds and hearts, how to prune the good to produce more harvest, what to cut off, and how to enjoy God’s harvest. Let’s look at each of these responsibilities.
Deep Roots: In Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus talks about the soil of our minds and hearts in another parable. In summary, if we listen to God’s word but don’t study it to know His truth for ourselves, we can forget it when life’s worries and circumstances challenge us. If our heart is hard and full of negative emotions and a rebellious spirit to do things our way, how can God’s roots grow deep in our mind and heart? Plants without deep roots cannot withstand the treacheries or sinful temptations of this world. Jesus knew this fact, and he lived as our example to always be connected to God, our Father. Our roots will grow deep when we keep God first by studying His truth, meeting with Him in prayer and praise, and living in His principles and commands.
Feeding: All living things need to be fed and nurtured, including our faith and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us a new spirit when he entered our heart. However, it’s our choice to work with him to learn and follow his principles and standards and allow ourselves to become more like Christ. As we fill our mind and heart with God’s truth by studying his word, praying, and giving Him praise, He will show us what we need to do to keep growing in Christ through the Holy Spirit. Fostering a deep personal relationship with God and Jesus ensures our growth.
Pruning: In the parable of the Vine and Branches, Jesus tells us that even as we grow, sometimes we need to be pruned to grow stronger. When this process happens, it can be confusing for believers because they think their growth or blessings should not include any hardship or pruning. We must remember that God is our loving Father. As a parent, our Father, God teaches us, corrects us, and sometimes allows us to fall to know that we can get up. Our loving Father doesn’t give us things just because we want them, especially if he knows they are bad for us. The greatest gift our loving Father can give us in many circumstances is the answer no because he knows what is best.
Harvest: The growing and harvesting cycle of our faith in the fruits of the Holy Spirit will continually flow throughout our life. Just like a grapevine, our faith takes years to grow deep roots that produce a healthy vine with a sturdy trunk that can produce an unimaginable harvest. As we walk hand-in-hand with Jesus, we have the honor of seeing his growth in us and a harvest of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control. We also see how the hope, love, and saving grace of Jesus transforms the lives around us as we share his gospel.
What Will You Choose?
Living in the faith of Jesus Christ requires us to learn and interact with Jesus every day. If we are Christ’s disciples, let us live a life that shows people his love and hope. Let us live lives that are so different from the world’s power struggles, self-focus, and all the lust of the flesh and power that we are a beacon of Christ’s love and hope. Let us grow strong in Christ and produce the abundant harvest he intended for each one of us. What will you choose?
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (Matt. 15:14-16, MSG)
