5 Steps to Continue to Grow in Christ
(Excerpt From Larry M Wills)
I was privileged recently to be able to sit in Larry Wills’ SS class. He was speaking on ways that Christians need to continue to grow. He gave us some great background information and then he began the practical application of what he was trying to help us in the group understand. He had 5 suggestions for our growth:
1) Examine ourselves!
2) Study Gods Word (Ezra 7:10)
3) Prayer (Luke 18:1, 1 Thes 5:17)
4) Worship (1 Cor 10: 23-33)
5) Service
What to me was so interesting in those 5 steps was #2, that is studying God’s Word. He brought up a really neat scripture from Ezra 7:10
9 … the good hand of his God was upon him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. (NASB)
It was interesting to note that the bible says that Ezra “Set his heart on God’s word”. You set your heart on God’s word by knowing that it is true, knowing that it will help you in every circumstance and desiring to learn from it deeply.
What else does the bible say about setting your heart? The Bible says, “…set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God…” (1 Chron. 22:19 NASB)
Merriam Webster’s Definition of having one’s heart set on (something) is: “When you have your heart set on something or when you set your heart on something, you want it very much.”
I agree that really the first step is to determine that you are going to set your heart on His word and desire it very much. I would suggest that we need to do 3 very key things that we see Ezra doing:
1) Study: Read and pray over the scriptures that God lays on your heart
2) Practice: How do we practice? By applying the truths we learn to our lives as God gives it to us.
3) Teach: You don’t have to be an ordained minister or a preacher / teacher of any notoriety, just you be you. Live your life as a testimony for God. You don’t even realize how often you do teach someone by your example. Make yourself available to others and be approachable by them. Spend time praying for and with them as God brings it to your mind!
If we obey as Ezra did, I believe that we will see “the good hand of God upon us!” That is God being true to His word and guiding our lives in His will.
I suggest that we indoctrinate ourselves to: “Study, Practice, Teach, Repeat!”
Note: You can hear Larry Wills’ Devotions online on YouTube at this link.
Mike Wills Music (Old Site) 