“Lord, please help me to live more like Jesus.” Have you ever approached God with some version of this prayer? When we consider the life of Christ, how he suffered ridicule and torture for the sake of his enemies, asking for a life like Christ’s takes courage. Yet, Jesus calls us to godliness[2], not because our deeds are necessary for salvation[3], but because he wants us to be impactful as his hands and feet in a hurting world. So, how do we go about growing spiritually? What are some conditions that can help us flourish as part of the body of Christ?

Grace and Humility

Ultimately, spiritual growth is achieved through God’s grace[4]. In him we live, move, and have our being[5], and without him we can accomplish nothing worthwhile[6]. The realization that salvation and growth are gifts of God, not dependent on works, instills humility in us, lest we brag of our good deeds. Yet, we understand that a vibrant Christian life will also bear fruit.[7]

Grace and humility go hand in hand, in terms of spiritual growth. Scripture tells us that if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, he will lift us up[8]. God delights in fulfilling the requests of spiritual seekers,[9] and he says that we will find him when we search for him with all our heart.[10] However, seeking God’s direction requires humility, recognizing who we are compared to who God is, and acknowledging that we have room to grow to achieve Christlikeness. A person who believes that he or she is perfect or invincible will have little motivation to seek God’s guidance.[11] Still, humility is not a natural state for human beings to dwell in for any significant amount of time. Sustaining a meek attitude requires some conscious effort. The godliest brothers and sisters among us likely acknowledge their imperfect human nature regularly, as athletes who are successful in their events train vigorously to maintain their skills and do not take their strength for granted.

Communication with God       

Jesus said that we must abide in him in order to thrive, to be connected as a branch is to a vine.[12] It may seem that a branch doesn’t do much to stay connected to a vine, that that connection is simply its default state. In that case we should remember that it is possible to take horticultural metaphor too far. While a branch may passively stay attached to its vine, believers must actively remain diligent to stay connected to Christ. We need to regularly communicate with him in order to maintain that relationship, just as we do with our closest family and friends. When we allow distractions to obstruct our relationship with Christ, the connection will lose clarity, and our spiritual life may start to lack direction. Conversely, as we grow closer to Jesus, his voice will ring out clearly and we will recognize his voice, as a sheep recognizes the voice of its shepherd.[13] It is true that if God has an urgent calling in mind for us, he has ways of getting our attention, even when we are distracted, like Moses with the burning bush or Balaam and his talking donkey. However, we can observe that God does not typically operate in this dramatic fashion, but rather through the quiet, everyday faithfulness of men and women who listen to him. While God is capable of moving mountains and stirring earthquakes, his direction is often found in the stillness of expectant prayer.[14]

Community

Our brothers and sisters are invaluable to us as we navigate this strait and narrow way[15]. Note that the word used in Matthew 7:14 is “strait,” which means “narrow,” as opposed to “straight.” Those of us who have lived life for any amount of time know that the paths God leads us on are often anything but straight! We need mentors, mentees, and peers to offer help and encouragement as we confront life’s zigs and zags. During a trial, one of Satan’s most useful tools is to convince the believer that he or she is alone in the struggle. However, once we start being open with the weights of our hearts, God will provide brothers and sisters who can relate to the situation. We Christians face hardship, in part, so that our wisdom and experiences may be spiritual balm for those who face similar challenges in the future.[16]

At times, we may find ourselves believing that our circumstances are relatively easy compared to those of others, so we should keep our challenges to ourselves and not share our personal prayer requests. Have you ever wrestled with a situation and thought, “I am really struggling, but how could I ask anyone to add this to their overflowing prayer list when other people’s situations are so much harder?” Circumstances that are challenging for one may not be challenging for another, but that does not diminish the legitimacy of the struggle. A godly friend or mentor will not dismiss your feelings. As members of the body of Christ, we all have different strengths and weaknesses. We are instructed to bear one another’s burdens[17] and to recognize that if one member of the body suffers, all suffer with it.[18] Challenges have their place, but growth is uncertain when you are overburdened with care. As a church family, we should frequently comfort each other and build each other up, in order to help the body thrive.[19]

Practice

Spiritual growth is ultimately a gift of God, but we can encourage growth in our lives by being practicing Christians, by walking in good works that are ordained of God.[20] Scripture identifies many activities that would be near to the heart of Christ, including visiting orphans and widows[21], feeding the hungry, providing shelter to those in need, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, or ministering to prison inmates[22]. These are wonderful activities, but this list is not exhaustive. Who is hurting in your community? In your church? How can you serve those individuals? Ask God to open your eyes to see the subtle needs around you. As the Word tells us, when we serve “the least of these,” those who society has cast off or simply does not notice, we serve the Lord himself.[23] As we draw nearer to God, he will draw near to us[24] and will shape us into women and men who he can use to bolster his kingdom.

[1] 1 Corinthians 3:7

[2] Matthew 5:48

[3] Ephesians 2:8

[4] 1 Corinthians 3:7

[5] Acts 17:28

[6] John 15:5

[7] James 2:17

[8] James 4:10

[9] Matthew 7:7-8

[10] Jeremiah 29:13

[11] Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 18:12

[12] John 15:5

[13] John 10:27

[14] 1 Kings 19:11-12

[15] Matthew 7:14

[16] 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

[17] Galatians 6:2

[18] 1 Corinthians 12:26

[19] 1 Thessalonians 5:11

[20] Ephesians 2:10

[21] James 1:27

[22] Matthew 25:35-36

[23] Matthew 25:40

[24] James 4:8