A challenge about...growing spiritually

The Bible equates spiritual growth with natural growth.

The idea of growing spiritually is...quite simply the formation and conformation and transformation of the human personality—body, mind, and spirit—into the likeness of Jesus Christ writes Richard Foster.

Dallas Willard explains spiritual formation as...

“... the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.”

Likewise, Larry Crabb describes spiritual formation in this way...

"...the Spirit detach{ing} us from dependence on blessings by letting us feel the pain of losing them and having to face how strong our spirit of entitlement is. Then the Spirit helps us discover the deep empty space in our soul that nothing could ever fill...only God."

As Paul encourages young Timothy, "...train yourselves for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7).

Spiritual formation doesn’t just happen. We are told repeatedly by Paul to put off the old person and to put on the new. How does one do that?

"The answer is actually rather simple. One must intend to do it, and then one must sensibly implement the means. Putting on the new person, growing in grace, is something we must do. Appropriate action is the key. True, as Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) But it is also true that if we do nothing it will be without him. The path of spiritual growth in the riches of Christ is not a passive one. Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude. You have never seen people more active than those who have been set on fire by the grace of God. " Dallas Willard