Too many Christians stop growing after salvation. Certainly, salvation is nothing less than the most spectacular event in a Christian’s life. The spectacular doesn’t have to stop at salvation, though.
A Christian can – and should – continue down the path of an increasingly spectacular life. For me, life with Jesus keeps getting better and better. Only by the Holy Spirit’s work in my life for growth is this happening.
Growth
How can a Christian continue experiencing the spectacular life that begins at salvation? Here’s what I’m discovering to be essential in my own growth as a Christ follower.
- Take ownership. Your faith. Your sin. They are yours alone, and you alone will stand before God on day. Take responsibility now. (Romans 14:12)
- Avoid comparisons. God hates all sin. Comparisons never negate the need for confession. (James 2:10)
- Protect from within. The condition of the heart is everything because the attitude of the heart directs all that we do and say. Above all, protect your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
- Draw near. The answer to every issue, every problem, every area of stress and worry is always more of Jesus. As you draw closer to Him, He reciprocates and draws closer to you. (James 4:8)
- Fight distractions. A simple life only exists when distractions are continually and deliberately mitigated. The simple life lived for Christ is nothing less than spectacular. (Hebrews 12:1)
A Spectacular Life
Being a Christian involves far more than being saved. This is not lessening salvation in any way. Instead, it’s realizing that as awesome as salvation is, God has more spectacular things planned for those who not only make Him Savior but also Lord.
Making Christ Lord means living a spectacular life, one changed by His unending mercy and grace.
“Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive this new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. We have to stop evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life as begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17)
Coach_Mike
I believe it is clear in God's Word that salvation is never a one time event in our lives: salvation means we have been saved (long before we realized our salvation), it also means we are saved in the present, but also we are being saved too. Salvation is a process that continues until we stand before God the Father in heaven and are introduced by Jesus, our Savior and Lord in this lifetime. We need to continually be growing and maturing inwardly, outwardly and upwardly daily, just as Jesus revealed to us. The Christian life is dynamic and change is a part of that life. Thanks Kari for allowing me to be a part of your blog…
Kari Scare
You make a very interesting point here. When we think of salvation, too often we think of it as this one-time event. And while that "moment" is significant and powerful, we make a terrible mistake if that's how we define salvation. We are being perfected and need to be "continually growing and maturing inwardly, outwardly and upwardly daily" in order to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-14). Not only is this Christian life dynamic (love that word), it's awesomely exciting too! Thank YOU Coach Mike for being a part of my blog.
Coach_Mike
Mutual… Amen
Mark Allman
I think we tend to think our lives are less than spectacular because we do those comparisons which I am sure are poorly done as well. We do not realize how much we are blessed day to day. We must draw near so we are not drawn away.
Kari Scare
Comparisons really do tend to mess up our perspectives. YES… "We must draw near so we are not drawn away." SO TRUE!
Mary McCauley
I wish I could remember the exact words of Max Lucado but they are something to the effect that while God loves us as we are He does not want to leave us that way. When I was young I accepted Christ as my Savior, but each day I find I grow as I seek Him through the many resources He provides…including you Kari!
Kari Scare
God absolutely wants us green and growing, and He gives us the tools as well as the desire to live in a constant state of growth toward perfection. We certainly won't ever be able to say that we didn't have the resources to grow, will we?!
Loren Pinilis
I think your last point about distractions was what stuck out most to me. In the world we live in, distractions are everywhere. We have unparalleled connectivity and information around us – which is a blessing in many senses. But it can also lead us to a very shallow state of living if we aren't conscious and disciplined about interacting with our world.
Kari Scare
This idea of distractions has really been on my heart lately. Studied that aspect of Solomon's life this morning in my devotions. More to come on that topic I think in the near future. I'm increasingly amazed at how distractions have been a problem throughout history. Our culture certainly has its plentiful share, but so have cultures throughout time. Interesting to me.