Spiritually dried; Who is responsible?

As I was reflecting on my relationship with God I humbly accepted that there are many areas in my life in which I needed to grow. It is good to hear and feel that one is growing spiritually. In fact spiritual growth is a lifelong process. The persistent call of scripture is for all of us to be lifelong learners. We never in this life arrive at absolute perfection until we reach heaven. There are many examples of this attitude in scripture. Caleb was still growing and going at the age of 85. “Give me this mountain!” he cried, then he assumed the most difficult military task the land of Canaan because “he wholly followed the Lord his God.” (Josh.14:12a, 14)

Many have written many things on spiritual growth. They give so many tips on “How to grow Spiritually?” But something caused me seriously to think when a believer while talking to me expressed himself by saying, “I lost my spiritual life.” Well, this can be testimony of many believers but not all of them accept it. In book of Corinthian Paul talks about natural, physical and spiritual ones. To say “I lost my spiritual life” puts a person either in natural or physical category. As we cannot imagine sun without light, in the same way without spirituality a person cannot be spiritual. Without light sun is not sun but something else in the same way without spirituality a person is not spiritual but something else.

Bible reminds us that God is the “source” for spiritual growth. We are grafted into God’s source of strength, sustenance and root system. In I Cor.3:6 Paul reminds us that it is God who causes spiritual growth. But there is a great part that believers have to do in growing spiritually. Jesus taught his disciples in the allegory of the vine and the branches that he as the vine is the source of growth for the branches (Jn.15:1-8). The key to that relationship and growth is our “ABIDING” (having closeness and connection with) in Him. That is the only way we can grow to maturity. Paul states in his letter to the Colossians, “so then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, “rooted” and “built-up” in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.’ (Col.2: 6,7)

Here three key words reflect growing to completeness –

§ A tree roots into the ground and grows to maturity

§ A building is built-up and is completed

§ People who are strengthened/ established are seen as complete, mature, whole Christians.

Elsewhere Paul tells that it is our responsibility to build on a foundation of salvation in Jesus Christ. We need to be as a “wise master builder”, to build on that foundation with “gold, silver and precious stones” not “hay, wood, straw” (I Cor.3:10-17).

Our abiding in Christ means that as humans we are grafted into God’s source of strength, sustenance, and his root system. This gives us the ability to minister as necessary in a very needy world and not to be destroyed when the struggles of life are all around us. As growth is hundred percent God’s part, “abiding” is hundred percent the part of believers. We don’t have to be affected so much with the situation around that we start feeling that “I have lost” my spiritual life. For loosing the spiritual life one cannot blame the situation, people or God, but himself. To me it sounds “he lost” because he was not serious or not attentive for his spiritual life. He was not much concerned for spiritual life and it was not precious for him. If spiritual life would have been precious for him he would have done the things which will help him to grow spiritually rather doing the things which caused him to loose. Certainly his relation as “grafted, rooted and abiding has to be questioned.

Problems are the devils lie but God’s opportunity. If you are in the state of spiritually drying up, feel that you are the one responsible for it. And need not forget that you can gain what you lost with your effort (in abiding). Trust that God who is the real source of spiritual growth will help you to grow.

Remember when God is with you and you are abiding in Him you don’t have any other option than to grow spiritually and be blessed.

May God Bless Us.

 

Rakesh Paul

Ranchi, India