YOU DONT GROW BY

TRYING TO GROW
 Jesus said, "Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature?"
Matthew 6:27
 You don't grow by trying to grow. In fact,
the more you work on trying to grow, the
less you grow.
 The plants and flowers grow not by their own
care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that
which God has furnished to minister to their life.
The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its
own, add to its stature. No more can you, by
anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual
growth."Steps to Christ, p. 68.
 Even small children understand the principle
of growth. You can ask them, "Which would
you rather work on, growing or eating?"
 It doesn't take them long to figure it out. If
they work on growing, they will accomplish
neither. If they work on eating they will
accomplish both.
 Are you interested in growing spiritually?
 The way to grow is by eatingby partaking of
the Bread of Life and the Water of Life.
 The one who experiences the most rapid
growth is the one who looks away from self
and concentrates on the Sun of
Righteousness.
The one who is dwarfed is the one who
spends the most time trying to grow.
 Many people have had the idea that spiritual
birth comes from God but that spiritual life
is their own responsibility.
 Many have an idea that they must do some
part of the work alone. They have trusted in
Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now
they seek by their own efforts to live aright.
 But every such effort must fail.
 Jesus says, 'Without Me ye can do nothing.'
 Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,
all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by
communion with Him, daily, hourly,by abiding
in Him,that we are to grow in grace.
He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of
our faith." Steps to Christ, page 69.
 It's not possible to grow in grace by our own
feeble efforts. Growth is a gift. It is received
through association with Christ, through
communion with Him.
 Mankind can never gain for himself that which
God has promised to give.
 Do you sometimes wonder if you are growing?
There's one sure way to tell.
Look at whether you are eating! The eating
determines the growing every time.