Spiritual Growth

In our preparation to meet our Lord, there is a very important experience that we all need to have daily which is expressed in a very few words with a deep meaning, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ forerunner, called people to repentance and when someone acknowledged his sinfulness and confessed his sins to the Lord, he was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River.

Once, the disciples came to John and told him, “Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him. “ (John 3:26), and John answered, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I [must] decrease.”John 3:28-30

This was quite an unexpected answer; the answer of a converted and sanctified man.

John’s words, which were inspired by the Holy Spirit, were powerful and guided people to repentance. Many people followed him because they were interested in his teachings; he spoke about the Light that enlightens all men. He preached about the kingdom of God, where there will be no tears, no death, no sin. He prepared the way for Jesus, the only one who could forgive sins and cleanse the character of man. When Jesus appeared, John did not feel threatened by His presence; he did not fear that Jesus would now take his position and that his disciples would follow another Teacher, but he said, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

We live in an age in which man struggles to be the best, to reach the highest position, to be acknowledged in society, to be successful. There is much antagonism and competition, even among children. Parents want their children to be the best at school, to learn as much as possible: foreign languages, several instruments, get information about everything possible so that they can survive in an ever more demanding society. Therefore, it is not surprising to meet children with a very sensitive nervous system, victims of stress and depression. Man wants to grow in knowledge, in acknowledgement and in success.

Already in paradise, the woman was tempted to reach a higher level of knowledge, similar to the one of God. Something impossible! Much knowledge, richness, and success give authority and power, but often make people proud.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, we read, “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” What is the problem with pride? We get the answer to this question in Proverbs 16.18, “Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Only when we are aware of our sinfulness, can we remain humble even if we have many talents. There was a man who declared, “I am the first of sinners” and it was only after this declaration that his growth in grace and knowledge of the true, living God started.

He must increase I must decrease.” Does God want us to be dwarfs? Does He want us to remain ignorant and not to grow? By no means!

The plants, the animals and people grow. The Holy Spirit is called our Teacher, who guides us in the way of salvation. The measure of our growth is the stature of Jesus Christ. Such a high expectation has our Father from us! Someone said that we reach the highest level of growth on our knees, when we humble ourselves before the Almighty and are connected with heaven!

Yes, God does want for all of us to grow, but in which direction? Heavenwards! How can we do that? Light, nutrition and water are indispensable elements for growth. Jesus is the Light of the world; He is the Bread of life and the Living Water. We need to feed our soul with His Word daily, in the same way that we feed our body several times a day to keep it alive and healthy.

What does this growth consist of? Let us read some verses:

“Not boasting of things without [our] measure, [that is], of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly.“ 2 Corinthians 10:15.

“But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever.” 2 Peter 3:18.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we [do] toward you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12.

The Lord wants us to grow in faith, in grace, in service, in love so that when Jesus will appear in the clouds of heaven, He may take us with Him. May the Lord help us to say together with John, “He must increase I must decrease” and may we all increase “with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:19.
AMEN

Teresa Corti