- 2 Peter 3:17–18 - Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- John 6:35 - And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Have you ever wondered if you are truly growing spiritually, or if you are simply continuing to do the things you are accustomed to? This is a perfectly valid question. Many of us attend church, pray, and read the Bible, but genuine inner changes are sometimes harder to see. Thankfully, spiritual growth is not a mystery. God is at work in our lives, and the following characteristics are signs of His transforming power: A growing hunger for Christ. Once we have tasted what life with Jesus is like, we want more of Him. He calls Himself the bread of life (John 6:35), and the more we experience His presence, the more our desire for Him increases, because we have discovered true satisfaction in Him. Developing spiritual discernment. The closer we walk with Jesus, the more clearly we see. We begin to distinguish what is true from what just sounds good. The Holy Spirit trains our spiritual senses and helps us perceive things we could not see before. An increasing capacity to love. Perhaps the most obvious sign of spiritual growth is when we start to care for people we previously ignored. The Holy Spirit softens our hearts toward difficult people and enables us to love them in a way that surpasses our natural abilities. Growth is not about achieving perfection—it is about changing. And that is worth rejoicing over.
Reflection
How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for Jesus Christ and grow in your love for others this week?
