September is a month of new beginnings. Sometimes it feels more like "New Year's" than does January. Educationally, it is especially a time of renewed commitment to growth.

Growth is a marvel. And a mystery. Commonly, it is imperceptible. For the process of growth is gradual. Moreover, growth tends to transpire when we are most amazed by our imperfect knowledge and unexplored ground.

Growth humbles. In a given field of studies, the most diligent students are prone to be those most awed by the breadth of material to learn. And they are right. No authentic student ever arrives. There are always greater depths to plumb, greater breadths to explore.

All this is infinitely true of spiritual matters. In this regard, our Reformed and Puritan forebears were rich. How profound was their grasp of Scripture! How broad their knowledge in diverse fields of truth! How deeply led by the Holy Spirit into experiencing and relishing the doctrines of grace! How beautifully they utilized their gifts for spiritual ends! They lived on the growing edge of advancement They grew in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ Nevertheless, as they grew, they were the more heartily persuaded, "We are of yesterday, and know nothing" (Job 8:9). Typical is Calvin's closing preface statement to the Institutes, quoting Augustine: "I count myself one of the number of those who write as they learn and learn as they write."

Reformed divines drew a parallel between educational and spiritual growth. The more they grew, the more they realized: There are greater depths to plumb, greater breadths to explore, greater heights to experience. For them, the beauty of growth lay precisely here. For growth was not an end in it­self, but its goal was their sanctification in Christ to God's glory by the applica­tion of the Spirit. Hence their continual call to true believers to seek growth in grace.

In this emphasis, our forefathers were eminently biblical. The Holy Spirit makes this abundantly plain particularly in the epistles of Paul and Peter: "We beseech you that ye increase more and more" (1 Thess. 4:10). "That ye may grow up into Him in all things" (Eph.4:15). "I pray that your love may abound more and more" (Phil. 1:9). "We beseech you as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more" (1 Thess. 4:1). "Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Pet 2:2). "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 3:18). Plainly, growth is a vital sign of life.

Called to Spiritual Growth⤒🔗

"But why is spiritual growth so necessary?" you may ask. "If God has begun his saving work in me, is not this sufficient? Must I be exhorted to grow, when I cannot make myself grow?"

All true believers are called to seek grace to grow in grace for these worthy reasons: First, and above all, spiritual growth glorifies God (Jn. 15:8; Phil. 1:11). "As your greatest good comes through the sufferings of Christ," preached Thomas Brooks to his flock, "so God's greatest glory that He hath from His saints comes through their growth under sufferings."

Growth in grace is the true beauty of the Christian life. Thomas Watson profoundly observes: "Abraham's faith was beautiful when in its infancy, but at last it grew so vigorous and eminent, that God Himself was in love with it, and crowned Abraham with this honour, to be 'the father of the faithful.'"

Growth in grace is the best proof of spiritual life, health, and usefulness. You cannot grow too much in grace. The Thessalonians' faith grew exceedingly, but not to excess (2 Thess. 1:3). Therefore seek growth, for either you shall grow or decay. True religion cannot stand still. If faith does not grow, unbelief will; if heavenly-mindedness does not grow, covetousness will.

Seek growth in grace also if you would flourish in glory. In heaven every vessel shall be full, yet some vessels hold more than others. He whose pound gained ten was made ruler over ten cities (Lk. 19:17).

Even more deeply, seek growing grace for such growth pleases God. Christ is the husbandman in the Song of Solomon who loved to see the plants, on which He had bestowed much labor, flourishing and bearing fruit (6:11). Reverently speaking, the Lord takes pleasure in all His people, but double pleasure in those that grow.

Nor is it His fault when we do not grow. God delights to "give more grace" says James (4:6), and David tells us that He has "pleasure in the prosperity of His servants" (Ps. 35:27). So little growth takes place because we quench so much the new principle of grace planted within us. As a vicious cycle, quenched duty, indulged iniquity, and neglect of growth robs us of spiritual privileges and grieves the Spirit. Seek growing grace by adorning the doctrine you profess (Tit 2:10), thereby preserving the cause of Christ from reproach and your own soul from backsliding.

Desiring Spiritual Growth←⤒🔗

Do you desire to grow in grace? Then the words of James must never be forgotten: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (1:17). This is as true of growth in grace as of all God's blessings. It is "the gift of God."

Nevertheless, God is pleased to work by means. He has ordained means as well as ends. If you yearn for growth in grace, you must use the means of growth. You must diligently use the private means of grace, search the Scriptures and writings of godly fathers, and storm the throne of grace for God's blessing. You must carefully use the public means of grace, attending how you approach God's Word. You must never settle for less than real and frequent communion with God in and through Christ Jesus, ever laboring to come closer to Christ in such experiential relationships as Savior-sinner, Physician-patient, Head-member, Shepherd-sheep, Master-pupil, Bridegroom-bride, and Advocate-client.

Seek mortification of the flesh, honoring of the Word, devotedness to God, and occupation with Christ, if you would grow in grace.

Marks of Spiritual Growth←⤒🔗

Do you desire to know if you are growing in grace?

Examine whether you are increasing in humility. The person who is growing spiritually increasingly feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness. Growing in low thoughts of himself, he is ready to say with Job, "I am vile"; with Abra­ham, "I am dust and ashes"; with Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies"; with David, "I am a worm"; with Asaph, "I was as a beast before Thee"; with Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips"; and with Peter, "I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Job 40:4; Gen. 18:27; 32:10; Ps. 22:6; 73:22; Is. 6:5; Luke 5:8).

Examine whether you are growing proportionally, for the right manner of growth is uniform. Thomas Watson provides an apt example: "To grow in knowledge, but not meekness, brotherly love, or good works, is not the right growth."

Another sign of growth is increased spirituality – in principles, in affections, in taste, in mind, in duty. Though not neglecting duty in any legitimate domain of life – domestic, ecclesias­tical, occupational, national, social ­the one growing in grace loves spiritual exercises best. A spiritual appetite for God and His means of grace is increasingly kindled. The prizing of Christ and the loving of His ordinances are growth-indicators, just as a declining Christ and waning ordinances indicate grace decline. In fact, the hallmark of spiritual growth is John the Baptist's maxim, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30).

Growth in grace also necessitates sanctification. A holy walk of life, which grows in conquering sin, Satan, and self, through Christ's strength, is a must for real spiritual progress. Thomas Brooks' Puritan language is sufficient validation of this mark of growth: "If now you would be rich in graces, look to your walking. It is not the knowing soul, nor the talking soul, but the close-walking soul, the obedient soul, that is rich."

Again, spiritual growth reveals itself in increased love – love for God, Christ, the Holy Ghost, family and neighbor – especially those of the household of faith. Growing grace increasingly loves God's attributes and the Holy Spirit's saving operations. It learns to see a thousand things in Christ and God's salvation of which it at first never dreamed. Christ's love and power, His heart and intentions, His office as Substitute, Physician, Shepherd, Redeemer, Friend, and Mediator, as well as Prophet, Priest, and King, are unfolded by the Spirit in an unspeakable manner. The more Christ is praised and prized, the less weary we grow in well-doing. Godly zeal multiplies; love for family and church consumes innermost desires; intercessions for missions at home and abroad enlarge themselves.

Increasing hatred of sin in both its penalty and pollution accompanies growing grace. Sin becomes not only a coal that burns, but also blackens, so that it is feared more than death.

Finally, dependence on God in Christ for everything signals growth. The true believer is enrolled for life in the school of free grace, the "trinitarian school" of 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of Him (the Father) are ye in Christ Jesus (the Son), Who of God is made unto us (by the Spirit) wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." As impossible as spiritual growth is from our side, God is able to provide it. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

Lord, grant me Thy grace, and cause me to grow in grace by Thy work and to Thy glory.