Growth seems to be a natural progression of all God creates. Whether we look at kittens, calves, kids, or children, they all start small, but with the right care, feeding, and environment, they grow to become healthy and fulfill God’s purpose for them.
Growth is a Lesson That God Teaches
All of God’s creation testifies of His existence, and growth is a lesson that teaches us about God’s intended process and purpose for His children. I am reminded of a problem my dad had when I was a teenager.
We lived on a small farm that had either a tiny lake or a huge pond that was stocked with fish. About two years after we moved there, the fish I caught looked like aliens from outer space. Every fish had a full-size head, but its body was small and underdeveloped. The fish seemed very strange.
Dad contacted our county’s Conservation agent. We learned that the fish were starving for oxygen and nutrients. Fertilizers were running off of our fields and into our lake, messing up the lake’s whole ecosystem.
Baby Christians
As Christians, we can experience a similar problem. When we are first saved, we’re babies who require extra attention and feeding. We also need exercise to grow up strong and healthy. If we lack any of those three, then we will not grow up as God intended. Instead, we will be stunted, just as my dad’s fish were.
We can read an account of this in 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 (ESV), I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
When we meet a new convert to Jesus, let’s do as Paul did, making sure God’s new baby receives careful instruction, gentle guidance, opportunities to find and use their gifting and stretch experiences, so they live by faith. By doing so, our new addition to God’s kingdom will be less likely to be like my dad’s fish but, instead, will be a mighty tool in God’s hand.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
You may like:
https://rockexcavationservice.org/2019/07/29/sounds-like-a-fish-story-to-me/
