Evidences of Spiritual Growth

Hebrews 6:1 (NLT)

Let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again.  Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. 

The writer of Hebrews expresses concern over Christians who are not growing spiritually.  Read Hebrews 5:12-14 right before this verse. 

What does “growing spiritually” really mean?  I like the ten evidences of spiritual growth that I copied into my Bible from a TV sermon by Charles Stanley many years ago:

1.   A growing hunger in your heart for God, not just knowing about Him, but really knowing Him.

2.   An increasing desire to know the truth of God’s Word.

3.   Developing a greater sensitivity to sin in your life.

4.   A decreasing desire or need for what the world has to offer.

5.   Continued increase in your sphere of love, accepting others no matter who or what they are.

6.   It is getting easier for you to forgive others who offend you.

7.   An increasing desire to obey God because of your increasing respect for Him.

8.   An ever increasing faith.

9.   An increasing concern for the spiritual condition of other people.

10.  An increasing love for God, an intimacy with Him; a capacity and a desire to express that love.

As you review these evidences, they all refer to progress, advancement, and significant change in the Christian life.  Yet, if you are a person who has been a Christian for many years and still cannot understand deeper principles of the faith, who has never taught someone else a Bible passage (Hebrews 5:12), and/or who is content to remain stagnant in your faith in and knowledge of God, you are fitting the description of these Hebrews verses.  Indeed, evidences of spiritual immaturity are the opposite of what is stated above and what is read in Hebrews 5:12-6:1).  I have other notes in my Bible by these verses that state the following:

§ Spiritual immaturity is the inability to instruct others on the Word of God

§ Spiritual immaturity is the inability to discern good from evil

§ Too many churches still preach “milk” sermons (Hebrews 5:13).

Spiritual growth is essential in the life of a Christian.  Spiritual growth paves the way to becoming mature, this same word for “perfection” or “completeness”.

Are you growing spiritually?  Review the ten evidences above and which ones do you need to work on in the coming year?  What are the next steps in your spiritual growth journey?  Can you write a few down and clip them on a calendar that you can review at the end of the year?