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I Stopped Growing

         That has been a problem in many of our lives and in the body. It is like a stormy day in our Christian walk.  We wake up one day with a cold, dreadful, dark and dreary faith. Sure, on the outside it seems cheerful but its true nature is far from a warm spring day.  When we come around we always ask “What happened?” to which there is only one answer. I stopped growing. How? And we may think, “I don’t miss church.” “I read great books by strong religious authors.” “I pray regularly.” “I try not to sin, well not in big ways anyway. I should be fine. How did I get here?"


We will stop growing when we quit. “Wait a minute, I’m no quitter!” I understand sometimes we let other things rule our life instead of God. We simply relinquish things in our faith that should not be given up. That’s what I mean by the statement “we quit.” We quit being strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-9). We quit seeking God first (Haggai 1:1-10). There are six things that we give up that will surely stop our growth.



 We abandon the truth.

John 8:31-32

 We make concessions for deviation from the word.

2. Cor. 11:1-4

We renounce being Holy.

2 Cor. 6:14

We tolerate sin.

James 1:12-15

We become content with being stagnant and lukewarm.

Rev. 3:14-22

We stop spreading the word.

Matt. 13:23



Those six concepts are some of the strongest things that keep us and the body from growing.  We must be aware of these things so that we can continue to grow. We must not nurse on milk forever but move to solid spiritual food (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Cor. 3:1-3). Spiritual milk is necessary but only for newborn babes (1 Pet. 2:1-3).  We need to be maturing in Christ (Phil.3:12-16). The only way to do this is by studying His word.  We can’t quit. We must be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). If we quit we can’t be faithful. We must keep running the race (Heb. 12:1-2). Our reward is eternal salvation. How easy it is to be enticed away from the word with our own evil desires. The cost of leaving is death (Mark 16:15-16). Let’s not stop growing. Let us hold fast to the truth and stand firm in it. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Col. 3:16). Never quit so that you never stop growing.



Have you stopped growing? 

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