Growth is a necessary part of life. If children don’t grow, parents and doctors become concerned. When plants don’t grow, gardeners wonder what went wrong. When Christians don’t grow in faith, it should be equally concerning.
Our faith, or our trust in God, needs to grow continually. We may begin our Christian life with a level of faith in God, having heard His word and trusted in His promises, but that faith should only be the beginning. Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of Christ.” As we continue to “hear” or study God’s word, our faith should likewise continue to grow. We might say that as long as there is more of God’s word to study, there is more room for growth.
Our faith, or our trust in God, grows stronger through trials (James 1:2-4). When we endure this physical life’s hardships by relying more on our faith in God than on ourselves, that faith grows stronger and deeper.
Our faith, or our trust in God, should grow until it is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:2 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Spiritual faith is why and how we believe in and trust in spiritual things. Once this physical life ends, and we stand before God’s throne, our faith becomes complete.
Matt Langfield