Spiritual Growth Begins with a Decision
By Rick Warren
“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything.” Ephesians 4:15 (The Message)
God wants you to grow up.
The Bible says, “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14 PHILLIPS). Your heavenly Father’s goal for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service.
Yet many Christians grow older but never grow up. They’re stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. One reason is because they never intended to grow.
Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.
Discipleship is a fancy word for spiritual growth; it’s the process of becoming like Christ. And it always begins with a decision.
Matthew 9 tells of Jesus calling some of his first disciples: “‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9 NLT).
When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation. They decided to follow him.
That’s all you need to get started too: Decide today to become a disciple.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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