Nourishing Spiritual Growth
The Art of Spiritual Development
Just as cooking requires patience, skill, and attention to detail, spiritual growth demands a similar approach. My wife excels in the kitchen, while I’m in charge of grilling outside, but both venues share common principles. One essential rule is to slow down and lower the heat, allowing flavors to mature. Another crucial step is proper preparation, which involves more than just slapping on some sauce.
Marinating in God’s Word
Marinating, the process of soaking food in a seasoned liquid, adds depth and richness to any dish. Similarly, spiritual growth requires immersion in God’s Word. It’s a technique of absorbing flavor and wisdom by saturating ourselves in Scripture. This process takes time – often hours, days, or even years – but the result is a life filled with the fruit of righteousness, glorifying God.
Avoiding Spiritual Microwaving
Too often, Christians try to rush their spiritual growth, giving God’s Word a quick glance and expecting instant results. However, God is not interested in microwaving our faith; He wants to marinate us in His truth. Our salvation may begin in an instant, but growth takes time, effort, and dedication. We can’t rely solely on Christian books, sermons, or Sunday church attendance; we need daily immersion in Scripture and constant prayer.
Gaining a Word View
When we’re saturated in God’s Word, we develop a biblical perspective, replacing the worldview with a heavenly one. We become literate in Scripture, and God gives us wisdom to respond to life’s challenges and decisions. It’s not easy, but it’s essential to be in the world yet not of it. This requires intentional and regular time in God’s Word, fellowshiping with Him in prayer.
The Finished Product
So, take the time to immerse yourself in Scripture. Do it deliberately and regularly, and the finished product will radiate a heavenly aroma. As Paul prayed, “May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV).
Leave a Reply