Big Idea: The growth of a Christian is complex and involves many change agents like God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, personal prayer and worship. These things are all very important, but they only serve to set up fertile soil in a Christians heart. The growth comes from God and his exclusive work in our lives. Similar to the part a farmer plays in growing a crop, he tills the soil, he plants the seed, he waters the seed but God is the one who causes the growth. When we do what we can do to create an environment for growth, then God’s work in our lives can take root.
THINK: It is not my responsibility to grow myself, that’s God’s job. I am responsible to cultivate a heart and life that is conducive for growth.
FEEL: My life can change and I can grow. No matter what my situation is, with the right conditions, God’s work can be effective.
DO: Cultivate the soil in my heart. Evaluate the environment I find myself in. If something needs to change so that God can grow me then I need to make a conscious choice to change it. Ask God to grow you and give you the courage to embrace the growth as it comes.
Prayer: “I know you desire to see me grow, God. I know that who I am now is not who I once was and who I will be is not who I am now. Help me to recognize the areas of my life that need to be rearranged to create an environment of growth. Give me the conviction to make the changes so that you might have full reign in my life and grow me into the person you destined me to be.”
1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-9
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.