Not Automatic

Colossians 2:^6-7 “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Over the next few days, beginning today, we will be looking at five things about growth. The first is that Growth Is Not Automatic. You can be born male, but it takes growth to become a man. I am sure you have heard it before that the fact that you are male does not make you a man. The fact that you have beards, and a deep voice does not make you a man. You can be female and not a mature woman. It takes being deliberate and making the right choices to become a man. It takes making the right choices to become an adult. So, you can be old and yet a child. The fact that you have been around does not guarantee that you have grown.

1 Peter 2:^1-2 “So get rid of all evil behaviour. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment” (emphasis added). If you want to grow, you need to choose to get rid of all evil behaviour. Get rid of them! Growth only happens when the conditions for growth are met. The conditions for growth are mainly two. Mothers and those who have been blessed to take care of infants, tell us that there are two main things required for growth. The first is A Safe Environment. Make sure your child has a safe environment. The second is Good Nutrition. Make sure your child is well nourished. Make sure you are feeding your child with the right kind of food and in the right quantity.

So, the two main conditions for growth are the environment and the nutrition. Similarly, for you to grow, you must meet the conditions for growth. While growth must happen over time, the passage of time does not always result in growth. You cannot force growth. The corn takes a period of time to grow, from the shoot to having fully matured fruit, and ready to harvest. However, the fact that the period of time has passed does not mean that the corn will be mature enough for harvest. Farmers can attest to this. Let’s assume that tomatoes take three months to mature. I am not a farmer, so this is just an assumption.

Let’s say it takes three months, all other conditions being equal. In the right conditions, normal conditions, not accelerated or scientifically modified types. If you plant the tomatoes, it will take three months plus or minus. Time is required for growth. You cannot force that tomato to grow faster by yourself. However, because three months have elapsed does not mean you will get a good yield, or that the tomatoes will mature. Time alone does not determine maturity!

Prayer: Father, I choose to be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. I crave spiritual milk, so I will grow into maturity, bearing fruit, in Jesus Name. Amen!