Growth is a natural part of our human experience. From the womb till about twenty years of age we continually grow physically. And then our bodies settle into place and for the most part stay the same minus gravity and a potential slight growth in the skull and/or pelvis.¹ Thus, our physical growth has a ceiling.

While this is true of our physical growth, it is not true of our spiritual growth. We never stop growing spiritually. We never hit the ceiling that is glorification and perfection in this lifetime. Thus, we ought never to settle in like our skeletal structure and become complacent. Paul says (Eph. 4:15–16), “¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Accordingly, growth is to happen in every way in Christ. We are to be, as Peter says (1 Pet. 2:2), “Like newborn infants, [who] long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” We are to, as Peter says (2 Pet. 3:18), “[G]row in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Lifetime growth is essential in the Christian life. We have a rich salvation that we are to grow into so that we can better walk in it and honor it. We have Christian truth in which we are to grow into that we may not be deceived. We have a church body that we are members of and our growth contributes to the growth of others as each does their part.

Therefore, keep growing. Keep reading your Bible. Keep reading good Christian books about theology, historical theology, and the biographies of faithful Christians. Read the great confessions of faith that the church has produced in the last 2,000 years. Read the ancient and modern catechisms that were designed to disciple the next generation. And as you read and respond you will grow.

Let us not be a church that plateaus but a church that continues to reach to the heavens where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. God is growing His church and the church members of it. Let us strive to walk accordingly.