Why am I not growing as a Christian?
Why do some people seem so much closer to God then I am?
Christian worldview expert Alex McFarland discusses the key to growing in your relationship with the Lord.
“Salvation is a free gift, but Christian growth is not automatic, Christian growth requires some investment on our side.”
As Christians, we sometimes say that we want a relationship with Christ, but do we really want it?
Alex tells the story of when he attended a Q & A and somebody asked the question, “Why does it seem like some people are closer to God than others?”
Here’s what the speaker said in reply,
“Some people seem closer to God then others because they’re willing to invest time, energy, and even years of their life to pursue God.”
As Christians, nothing is holding us back from God except ourselves.
“It dawned on me that we can have as much of Jesus as we want. In fact, we do have as much of Jesus as we want in our life.”
We won’t experience communion with God unless we take the initiative and fill our lives with the Holy Spirit through the spiritual disciplines.
“That made me up the ante on my Bible reading and my prayer time, just disciplining myself every day to get alone and get quiet before God because pursuing Christ-likeness is going to take purposeful commitment.”
Following Jesus is not an accident; it is an intentional choice day after day, moment by moment.
“God is more concerned with our holiness, than our ‘happiness,’ if that’s going to happen in our lives we are going to have to choose to pursue it.”
If we don’t commit time to getting to know God better, we won’t grow closer to Him. The same goes for any relationship we find ourselves in.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8
