A life of perpetual growth
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: The meditation encourages a life of perpetual growth and development towards being more like Christ. Paul's words in Philippians 3:12 emphasize the importance of continually reaching towards the ideal of Christ Jesus, and forgetting what lies behind. Our goal should be to reflect the perfection and character of Christ over time, and to reconstruct our personalities until they conform to His image. This involves removing any traits that do not glorify God and cultivating a generous and humble heart. External behavior must be based on deep foundations of solid spirituality, love, mercy, humility, compassion for others, and recognition of our own essential fragility. God seeks internal quality and moral richness, not just external acts of good behavior and religious respectability. Our supposed virtues are like filthy rags unless they are sustained by a spirit dealt with by God and purified to the uttermost. The prophet Micah expressed that what God requires is actually very simple: to do justice, love mercy, and humble ourselves before God. The pursuit of respectability through works only leads to spiritual pride and self-righteousness, while the recognition of our shortcomings makes us deserving of God's grace and love.
The pursuit of respectability through works only leads to spiritual pride and self-righteousness. A successful life, according to the biblical framework and values of the Kingdom of God, is one that has managed to eliminate from our own life everything that does not resemble Christ Jesus. We must continually strive to incorporate into our personality new attributes that manifest the virtues that make up the divine character. Our goal in life should be to bring our inner being, our moral and spiritual constitution of character, our way of being, our personality to such a high level of development that when God looks at us, he is pleased. We must continually behead giants that oppose the powerful and abundant life that God has declared over us.
The idea that we are too old to change is a fatalistic mindset that limits our potential. Our brain retains its vitality and flexibility for longer than we often think, and we should constantly challenge ourselves to learn new skills and undertake new challenges. Aging can be a time of great beauty and personal growth if we maintain a positive attitude and embrace new opportunities. Through a close union with the power that is in Jesus, we can overcome obstacles and achieve personal greatness. We should embrace the ethics of a spiritual giant and believe that everything is possible for those who believe in the Lord Jesus.
The pursuit of respectability through works only leads to spiritual pride and self-righteousness. A successful life, according to the biblical framework and values of the Kingdom of God, is one that has managed to eliminate from our own life everything that does not resemble Christ Jesus. We must continually strive to incorporate into our personality new attributes that manifest the virtues that make up the divine character. Our goal in life should be to bring our inner being, our moral and spiritual constitution of character, our way of being, our personality to such a high level of development that when God looks at us, he is pleased. We must continually behead giants that oppose the powerful and abundant life that God has declared over us.
The idea that we are too old to change is a fatalistic mindset that limits our potential. Our brain retains its vitality and flexibility for longer than we often think, and we should constantly challenge ourselves to learn new skills and undertake new challenges. Aging can be a time of great beauty and personal growth if we maintain a positive attitude and embrace new opportunities. Through a close union with the power that is in Jesus, we can overcome obstacles and achieve personal greatness. We should embrace the ethics of a spiritual giant and believe that everything is possible for those who believe in the Lord Jesus.
In honor of our men and fathers of the Congregation, I want to share with you this meditation that invites us to live a life of perpetual growth. Repeat after me: perpetual. This means that we want to be continuously in the process of growth and development.
And the Lord put it on my heart this morning to read, rather, a portion of a book that I started years ago before all this construction started, I had started writing, and it stayed there halfway, still I have not resumed it, it is waiting there in the most meek way for me to come back again to finish it. I want to share some pages, I'm going to read it; I don't normally preach by reading, but I want to share this with you so open your spirit to these words and I hope the syntax of Scripture isn't too complex, this is going to be easy. But open your heart to this call from God to a life of perpetual development and it is always more and more, and to grow more in the Lord because that is what the Lord wants, that we be more conformable to the character of Jesus Christ.
And the Lord put it on my heart this morning to read, rather, a portion of a book that I started years ago before all this construction started, I had started writing, and it stayed there halfway, still I have not resumed it, it is waiting there in the most meek way for me to come back again to finish it. I want to share some pages, I'm going to read it; I don't normally preach by reading, but I want to share this with you so open your spirit to these words and I hope the syntax of Scripture isn't too complex, this is going to be easy. But open your heart to this call from God to a life of perpetual development and it is always more and more, and to grow more in the Lord because that is what the Lord wants, that we be more conformable to the character of Jesus Christ.
