October 17, 2012 (Wednesday)
A little known fact about us humans is that we get taller when we sleep. We lose the added height, however, when we wake up in the morning and get out of bed.
Physical growth is a phenomenon that has long been studied by the scientific community. The more one knows about it, the more fascinating the subject appears to be.
Spiritual growth is also something that we study. The Apostle Peter urged us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV).
Sincere Christians want to experience spiritual growth and a measure of spiritual maturity. Perhaps we can find encouragement and help in the words of Charles Spurgeon:
“Growing Christians think themselves nothing, but, full-grown Christians think themselves less than nothing. The nearer we get to Jesus, the smaller self will appear to be. Self and Christ can never come close together. When I stand near self, Christ is small. When I stand near Christ, self is small. May God grant to you, dear Friends, to grow in the knowledge of Christ! Read the Scriptures more. Seek more the influences of the Holy Spirit upon them. Spend more time in devotion—ask God the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh sight of Calvary. Be more often on the Mount of Transfiguration, in the Garden of Suffering, in the Hall of Agony, under the Cross of Crucifixion! Live with Jesus and near to Him—and so, changed from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord, you shall, each one of you, grow unto the stature of a perfect man or woman in Christ Jesus!” (Delivered at New Park Street Chapel, Southward, 1858).
