Characteristics of Growth – Part 1
Genesis 2:5 (HCSB)
No shrub of the field had yet grown on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground – Genesis 2:5 (HCSB)
The world in which we live consists mainly of two groups of living things, namely, plants and animals. All living things created by God share seven basic characteristics – Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Nutrition, Excretion, Reproduction and Growth. All of these characteristics work together to ensure the survival of the species.
Growth can be defined as the ability of a living thing to increase in size or maturity, or to move from one developmental stage to another, often causing physical change.
Different organisms experience growth in different ways. Even humans grow physically in different ways. For instance, males grow in ‘spurts’ and therefore stop growing at age twenty-one. Females, on the other hand, grow continually, and therefore stop growing at age eighteen.
Humans also grow socially, academically and spiritually. Just as a baby grows inside of his/her mother’s womb, similarly, we, as Kingdom citizens, have been growing inside the mind of God. Jeremiah 1:5 says this, “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew thee, and before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Babies are born physically after nine months of incubation in his/her mother’s belly. Similarly, we are born spiritually when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. Babies nurse milk from their mothers’ breasts. We are encouraged in 1 Peter2:2, “As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”
Babies grow and develop from that stage to a toddler, then to childhood, adolescence, teenager, and finally into an adult. As they grow, they stop drinking only milk and begin to consume the kinds of food which will make them healthy and strong, and cause them to continue growing.
So how do we grow beloved? We grow by using our senses to discern between both good and evil. How can we do that? By following God’s commandments, living righteously, and cultivating the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will share His gifts with us, and His Fruit will be evident in our lives.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You are the Creator of all living things. Thank You for helping us to grow in You. We know that we can depend on You to help us through each developmental stage through Your love, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Help us to continue growing in You in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Read: Genesis 1:21; Psalm 90:12; Colossians 2:19
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 59:9-17; John 6:60-71; John 7:1-13; Judges 12; Judges 13
