So I talk a lot about growing in Christ because I deeply believe that transformation is the whole point to this Christian walk. At Salvation, God transforms us from death to Life. (Jn 5:24) Instantly our eternity changes forevermore. We go from being doomed to hell apart from God and all that is good, to having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Rev 21:27) And since our names are written in the permanent red ink of the Blood of the Lamb, Heaven is our only destiny. Praise God! Because of the work of Jesus we GET to be with Him in Paradise! (Lk 23:43)
But we cannot stop there, my Friends! If Salvation was all about going to Heaven, then the moment we sincerely surrendered our lives to Jesus as Savior, our bodies would drop to the ground and off our soul and spirit would go…but if you are born again and you are hearing this right now, then we are still here! How amazing that there must be more to Salvation than Heaven. Thus Sanctification! It is as we grow in Christ that God continues to bring out this Eternal Life He has given us. He renews our minds so we can think more and more like Him. (Ro 12:2) He helps us use the gift of self-control so we can learn to keep our emotions in check. (Gal 5:23) And He aligns our will with His Holy Will. (Lk 22:42)
Then as we grow, eventually, we begin to live the life of Service where we display all the transformation God is working in us, by loving others in the Name of Jesus. This week’s verse teaches us how to grow in Christ. It is from the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30, and it simply says:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” Jn 3:30 ESV
I think the reason most Christians struggle with this New Life is because they get this one backwards. Let’s talk about it this week…
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
9- 1Pe 5:7
10- Jn 8:32
11- Dt 30:19
12- Jn 3:30
<>< Peace, Diane
