The church has tried through the generations numerous methods
of getting a person to grow spiritually. Whether it be renewing
commitments, making vows to God, or the Spanish inquisition; getting
people to do what God has said they "should" do has
received a major expenditure of energy, time, and money.
Conscientious and dedicated people spend years agonizing over
their own lack of spiritual progress as they see themselves returning
to the same vices and attitudes.
How does a Christian grow? What are the mechanics behind behavioral
change and internal attitude shifts?
To better grasp the concepts presented, Ephesians 3:17-19 (pg.
988) has been printed below.
In order to better understand the picture being painted by the
writer, please take a moment to draw a tree over the top of the
above verses. Since the bold line represents the ground, please
draw the roots of the tree below that line. Then have a trunk
coming up out of the ground. Finally, draw the foliage so that
it surrounds the verse #4 at the top of the illustration.
As you look at your illustration, you will immediately notice
that the order of the verses does not move from the top to the
bottom of the paper. Rather they are numbered to correspond to
the illustration. So if we look at them in the order in which
they appear in the Bible, we would begin with . . .
When reading Ephesians 3:17-19, we find ourselves in the middle
of a rather personal prayer that the Apostle Paul is praying for
his readers, the Christians at the city of Ephesus. He makes a
statement about them that is as true today as it was then! He
is stating that every Christian in that day or today is rooted
and established in love.
He will be developing a picture of the Christian's growth as that
of a tree. Now, at the outset, he addresses himself to the root
structure and the soil in which it has been planted.
He calls that soil "LOVE." Take a minute to print the
word "love" on top of the soil in your illustration.
He is stating that every believer at the moment that he trusted
Christ for his forgiveness is placed deep within the security
of God's love.
So what?
God's love has become almost trite and meaningless in its repetition
in both sermons, songs, and bumper stickers. Sometimes it takes
a passage from the Bible like I Corinthians 13:4-8 to awaken an
appreciation for His love. What is His love like? What does His
love contain? The passage in I Corinthians indicates that God's
love contains patience, kindness, humility, unselfishness, forgiveness,
commitment, and never-ending endurance.
Take a moment to print those qualities on your illustration down
in the soil next to the roots.
What a rich soil! The nutrients in that soil are perfect for strong
and healthy growth!
So why doesn't it happen more consistently?
The reason for not growing can be summarized in one word. That
word is "grasp." Literally, the word means "to
take for one's own." Like the process of a tree drawing the
nutrients out of the soil, a Christian must also FEEL the nutrients
of the soil PERSONALLY if growth is to occur.
It is one thing to know that God is kind. It is another to feel
that He is kind WITH ME! It is one thing to know that God is patient.
It is quite another to feel that He is patient WITH ME! It is
one thing to know that God is love. It is another to feel that
God loves me! This is the essence of the word "grasp."
This is where growth breaks down. It has nothing to do with the
richness of the soil in which the Christian is planted. It has
everything to do with how much of that soil is making it into
the personal understanding and feelings of that individual.
It would be good to digress for just a moment to explore how this
"grasping" occurs. We could list many true Christians
who have the right answers about God and what He is like but are
not growing. There has been very little behavioral and/or attitude
changes.
"The body of Christ" as it is used in the Bible to
refer to the church is more than just a beautiful analogy. The
church IS Christ's own physical replacement in the absence of
His own physical body on this planet. If He were physically here,
we would gain comprehension by the way He treated us in our relationship
with Him. Since, He is not here, we gain comprehension through
being emotionally touched by His replacement, the body of Christ,
the church.
As I am forgiven by another person, I grasp more of Christ's forgiveness
for me. As I am treated kindly by another person, I gain a glimpse
and better understanding of His kindness towards me.
There is no other way. If I shut myself off from relationships
because of the risk of being hurt; I find myself having great
difficulty comprehending God and His attributes. I can get knowledge
in seminars and classes. Feelings must come through relationships
with others.
Let's take this just one more step. Think about Christians you
know who have the right answers but are missing this "grasping"
of which we're talking. You will probably find them without meaningful
relationships with people who treat them like God treats them.
However, there is one other possibility that requires a mention
here. The more a person's childhood was UNLIKE God's present treatment
of them, the more difficult this process of grasping will be.
In many situations emotional help through the guidance of a professional
counselor might be necessary to remove possible blockages in feeling
God's love.
Paul prays that the Christians might understand personally
how all-inclusive (wide), how never-ending (long), how extensive
(high), and how firm (deep) God's love really is!
Again the emphasis is made in the choice of the word "know"
in this section. This word literally means "to know through
personal experience." Paul wants them to have so much more
than just a mental knowledge! Once again he alludes to the earlier
concept of "grasping."
The ultimate goal of this passage is that the Christian might
grow ("filled up to the measure of the fullness of God").
Branches, foliage, and fruit appear on the tree. The branches,
foliage, and fruit are then all reflective of the rich soil in
which the tree is planted.
Please notice that key word "filled." What a natural
process this word suggests. It does not say "worked up."
In the word "filled," there is no hint of straining,
sweating, or pushing!
However, the word "filled" does suggest that it will
take time. Drawing the nutrients out of the soil and up into the
trunk of the tree is a process. It will not happen overnight.
With this picture in our mind, other passages in the Bible begin
to make more sense. Galatians 5:22 (pg. 986) and the fruit of
the Spirit makes more sense. Jesus' picture of the vine and the
branches from John 15 (pg. 912) also becomes clearer in its meaning.
Let's take a moment to just think our way backwards through this
powerful illustration. What fruit is NOT currently hanging on
your spiritual tree? Are you impatient? Then it only indicates
that you have not yet grasped just how patient God is with you!
Selfish? Again, you have not yet comprehended how unselfish God
treats you. You haven't felt it yet. . . if it isn't hanging on
your tree.
The implications of all of this is vast. In our teaching others,
we must not call for fruit before we have guided them into a grasping
of God's treatment of them. To call for love from a person who
doesn't feel loved is to call for an energizing of their human
efforts. Dishonesty and spiritual burnout becomes inevitable!
In order for fruit to appear on your tree, you MUST be around
other Christians who have already comprehended that which you
are longing to feel.
As Paul prayed to his reader, I pray for you:
May it happen for you!