TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
GROWING UP IS NECESSARY
22nd FEBRUARY 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE:1 Corinthians 3:1,2 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready.
One of the lessons that stands out the most from our study these past few weeks, is that Love is spiritual. That is, it is a working of the Spirit and nature of God. And if you have received this love, it should naturally translate to producing love in you by the Spirit.
The question is- What then should be the result in our lives and relationships?
Love actually demands growth. In fact, the fruit of the Spirit in you is essentially, a pull to demonstrate love(Galatians 5:22-25).
It is a call to step up to your true identity.
If you think about it, is there a loving parent who would be happy to see his/her child not growing or not acting in ways that coming from?
How then do you think that God, who is love does not desire or expect you to make progress and grow in your love walk?
Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth is a prime example of how disheartening it is when we are not growing. He had visited them a number of times, and in fact, during his first visit, he taught the gospel so wholeheartedly for about 18 months, labouring over them, in spite of the discouragement he faced.
But what result does he get? One year after he leaves and its glaring that they still hadn’t grown, they were still carnal, expressing emotions and actions that didn’t mirror the nature of love. Yesterday, we saw in verse 3 of our text that he described them as living like mere men.
Let’s bring it home to us. Can I talk to you as the spiritual person that you are?
This is not a subject we can gloss over and pretend that you are doing well. If your daily walk doesn’t express the character of love you have received, you are being carnal. Your growth is stunted. It’s time to make progress in your spiritual development milestone.
When you come across believers who can move mountains and do great exploits for the Kingdom but are unable to express love in the smallest of situations or interactions with others, doesn’t it leave you confused or even displeased, wondering if they have truly received the love of God?
To be spiritual is to live a life led by the Spirit. In other news, you don’t have to work this out by your own strength or ability. It is even more natural to operate by the Holy Spirit than to operate by your senses.
The Holy Spirit is in you. Why not relinquish control and allow Him guide and help you?
Today, Love is placing a demand on you to rise to the fulness of who you really are. And love won’t stop labouring.
The question is, what would your response be?
Will you decide to grow in your knowledge of the person of Love?
REFLECTION
Does my character reflect the truth of my spiritual nature or carnality?
DECLARATION
-I have received the Love of God.
-I am Spiritual both in nature and expression because I am born of God.
-His Spirit of Love is at work in me.
-I make progress in my love walk to the delight of my Father.
-By the help of the Holy Spirit, I rise to the demand of the Spirit of love at work in me and I produce good works.
-Carnality has become uncomfortable in my life because I am full of the Spirit.
-I walk and live by the Spirit and my progress is evident.
-Today, testimonies abound for me because the Gospel works. Hallelujah!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to LOVE ~ The Series 2 >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
