I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)
Paul’s prayer in the opening words of his letter to the Ephesians gives us some real insight into the nature of spiritual growth in our lives. Yesterday, we looked at the goal of spiritual growth - to know God. That is, to grow in an intimate relationship with our creator and Father. Today, I want us to focus on the process of spiritual growth and, specifically, on what I like to call the Divine-human equation.
Notice that phrase, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Anything and everything we know about God comes to us by revelation, and it is God’s Spirit that does the revealing. If you stop and think about it, it’s humbling. I can’t discover anything about God, about his divine wisdom and person, apart from his revelation. Let me put that another way - God must choose to make himself known to me. Apart from his initiative, I am blind to his presence, power, and person.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying there is nothing for us to do. I’m not saying we have no role to play. “Ask and it shall be given. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” “When you seek me with your whole heart, you shall find me.” There is a big difference between “works” and “effort.” (Some of you may have to think about that.)
The point of all this is to say that the source of spiritual growth is God. His Spirit reveals, leads, guides. How could it be any other way? We’re talking about the Eternal One, Creator and Sustainer of this universe. But at the same time, we must seek God. We must cry out to Him and for Him.
Spiritual growth begins and ends with God, but it demands a hungry heart and an urgency like that of Jacob, who, after wrestling all night with God, cried out, saying, “I will not let go until you bless me!”
In Christ,
Dan
Thank you for the encouragement Ptr. Dan.