Are You Growing Spiritually? Here’s How to Tell – 4

We have been looking at ways to measure our spiritual growth.  We talked about yearning more and more for heaven, being more forgiving of others, becoming more aware of God’s work in our lives, growing in our appreciation of the Bible and having our worship become more God-centered as signs we are growing spiritually.  We’ll look at 2 more signs this blog:

6. Are you more sensitive to sin than you used to be?

Romans 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Rom 7:14-19  We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 

As young Christians we are aware of things that are sin, things we shouldn’t think or do.  But as we grow closer to God we begin to see sin in more and more areas of our life.  We start recognizing that our selfish motives and prideful attitudes are sin.  We become more and more aware of how far we fall short of God’s perfection.  Instead of becoming more and more like Jesus we feel less and less like Him.

When Paul was a new Christian he wrote that he was the least of all apostles.  Later he wrote that he was the least of all Christians.  Toward the end of his life he wrote he was the least of all people.  Do you see the progression?  As he grew he became more and more aware of his own sin and failure.

Are you more sensitive to sin in your life than you were?  Are you more aware of when you sin and more bothered by it?

Are you less apt to give yourself credit for things you do?  Do you thank God more and more for His grace in your life?

Are you more appreciative of His free forgiveness than you used to be?

Becoming more sensitive to sin in your life is a sign you are growing spiritually.

7. Are you quicker to forgive others who hurt you?        

Matt 6:14-15   For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.     

Mark 11:25   And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”   

Col 3:13   Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

Do you find that you are quicker to forgive people than you were a few years ago?  Are you less likely to argue or seek revenge against those who hurt you?  Do you forgive people as soon as they hurt you and not wait for them to apologize first?  Do you forgive them as soon as the offense takes place?

Jesus is our perfect example of forgiveness. He forgives us immediately and totally, even before we ask Him for forgiveness.  As we become more like Him we will find ourselves being quicker to forgive others.  They may hurt us on purpose or accidentally, but our first response is getting to be to quickly forgive them.

Do you find yourself quicker to forgive than you were in the past?  That is a good sign that spiritual growth is taking place.

(If I can answer questions or offer personal counsel, or if you would like a free copy of my Spiritual Warfare Handbook, email me at Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org or download it from http://sw.christiantrainingonline.org/.  My next book, Spiritual Warfare in the Bible, which is a more advanced treatment of spiritual warfare, is also available there for free.)

C t O Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
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