Jul 11
15
The Individual Believer
Eternal life is by the Seed being sown within us–Christ in you the hope of glory. We begin as babes. And children grow up. The Lord compared faith to a grain of mustard seed, we grow in faith. Believers are complete in Christ–it is not the measure of our faith that makes us complete–it is Christ in whom we are Complete. So it is that growth in grace is not growth in self-sufficiency or away from Christ but growing up into Christ, more dependent upon him (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3: 18). This growth will cause us not to think more of ourselves–but less of ourselves and more of Him! (John 3:30; Philippians 2; 1 Corinthians 14:20). Using those he has grown to be least is how he grows his kingdom to be the greatest–for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great (Luke 9: 48). Just as our Lord walked this earth, no man doing him harm until his hour was come, just as he called and maintained and grew his church, so he maintains and grows every individual child in his body. Growth of the kingdom of heaven is by the Power and Wisdom of God our Father through his Son Jesus Christ. Growth in grace is as much by the free, irresistible grace of God as the beginning of life which came by his irresistible grace. He shall grow his kingdom. So let this be an encouragement to us–despise not the day of small things. What a glorious word to encourage us-thy God reigneth! Clay Curtis