Posts with the tag “growth”

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” - Hebrews 12:15 Some of the most damaging growth happens quietly. Nothing dramatic at first. No big arguments. No clear breaking point. Just small things left unaddressed. Over time, bitterness spreads. Pride hardens. Neglect settles in. Like kudzu, it grows fast, wraps...  Read More

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” - John 15:5 Relationships are always growing into something. They never stay neutral. Even when no one is trying, something is forming beneath the surface. Over time, patterns develop, tone settles in, and trust either deepens or erodes. What grows in your relat...  Read More

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Resurrection is not just something Christians believe happened to Jesus. It is something that is meant to show up in the way you live. When God brings someone to life in Christ, the change does not stay hidden. Over time, it begins to surface in how you think, respo...  Read More

“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 When an athlete joins a new team, one thing changes immediately. The jersey. It does not matter how long they played for the old team or how familiar that uniform feels. Once they belong somewhere new, they dress like it. Wearing the old jersey would send the wrong mess...  Read More

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 It is possible to look put together while still feeling unfinished inside. You adjust behavior, clean up habits, and manage appearances, hoping that will bring peace. From the outside, it can look like growth. On the inside, the same fears, patterns, and frustrations keep resurf...  Read More

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither.” - Psalm 1:3 It is hard to stay patient when nothing looks different yet. You are praying, showing up, trying to trust God, and still waiting to see change. From the outside, it can feel like nothing is happening at all. That waiting can mess with your confidence and make you quest...  Read More

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him.” – Colossians 2:6 It is easy to assume that growth means moving on. You start with Jesus, then eventually graduate to something deeper, more advanced, or more impressive. Faith can quietly turn into a ladder where Christ is the first step instead of the foundation. Over time, you feel pressure to outgrow what once b...  Read More

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 Trying to look like a good Christian can be exhausting. You say the right things, show up when expected, and keep moving even when your heart feels tired. On the outside, things look fine. Insid...  Read More

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” – Ephesians 2:1 It is easy to think the problem with our lives is that we need to do better. Try harder. Clean a few things up. Add better habits. Be more disciplined. That way of thinking feels natural because it keeps control in our hands. But Scripture tells a very different story about what was actually wrong. Before Christ, we were not just str...  Read More

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” – Colossians 2:6–7 Many people have had an experience with Jesus without ever submitting to Him as Lord. They felt something in a moment, made a decision, or responded to a need. Over time, when pressure showed up, their faith began to wobble. Experienc...  Read More

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” – Psalm 66:18 Sometimes the hardest part of spiritual growth is being honest with yourself. Not honest about what other people do or how they’ve hurt you, but honest about what’s living in your own heart. That’s where the real work starts. Jesus said if you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift ...  Read More

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” - Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus was sitting on a hillside when He preached what we now call the Sermon on the Mount. He looked at a group of ordinary people, His disciples and a crowd gathered around, and gave them a brand new identity. He said, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” Those weren’t compliments. T...  Read More

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." - Micah 5:2   When life feels overwhelming, when the news is filled with injustice, and when peace seems out of reach, it’s easy to wonder if things can ever really change. Imagine hearing a pro...  Read More

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25   In evaluating our faith and spiritual vitality, it’s crucial to reflect on what it means to be truly alive in Christ. Just as a living organism is marked by growth and c...  Read More

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” - Romans 12:2    Change can be uncomfortable. We often prefer the familiar, clinging to our routines and traditions because they feel safe and predictable. But what happens when our desire for comfort starts to hinder...  Read More

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” - Revelation 2:4-5a    Have you ever considered what leads to the death of a church? It’s not always external factors like persecution or financial struggles. Often, the cause is much closer to home. The church in Sardis died be...  Read More

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” - Revelation 2:4   As we dive into Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Revelation, one striking aspect stands out: Jesus doesn’t just praise these churches or merely criticize them. Instead, He offers a balanced perspective, pointing out both their strengths and their weaknesses. This approach is something we can lear...  Read More

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5  To be “in Christ” means to abide and to dwell in Him as a branch does to a vine. Jesus vividly illustrates this in John 15:5, where He says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” This powerful metaphor shows us the essential connection we must maintain ...  Read More

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18 Allow me to take you on a journey down memory lane. When I was 18 years old, I was a certain height. Most of you probably stopped growing taller around that age too. However, the fascinating truth is that physical growth isn’t the only growth we experience in this journey of life. Intellectua...  Read More