Why Is Spiritual Growth Important?

　　August 12

　　"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

　　In the mid-1700s, a shipload of migrants landed on the northwest coast of America. Their first year, they established a site on which they’d build their town. The second year, they elected a town government. The third year, the town government made the decision to build a road stretching five miles westward into the wilderness.

　　In the fourth year, the townspeople tried to overthrow their own government because they believed building a road five miles into the wilderness was a waste of money. The very same people who saw thousands of miles across an ocean and overcame hardships to get there couldn’t see five miles down the road!

　　Many Christians are a lot like those townspeople. They reach a point in their walk with Christ and think they have no further to go. It’s like they’ve become close enough with God to be comfortable, so they go into “maintenance mode” and stop moving forward.

　　Our comfort in Christ comes from the fact that through faith, we’re firmly planted in Him. But as we grow and mature, we surrender daily as we are transformed more and more into His image. Don’t be content in yesterday’s spiritual growth. Move continually forward in your faith and surrender your life to Christ day by day!

　　Prayer Challenge

　　Ask God to show you how to surrender each day to Him so you’ll continue growing in Christ.

　　Questions for Thought

　　Why do you think becoming spiritually comfortable is such a common tendency among believers?

　　What are some things you can do daily that will help you continually give your life over to Christ?

　　Visit the Senior Living Ministries website