IS YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE GROWING OR GOING? The apostle Paul is concerned, not about our physical or social status, but about our spiritual stature. We are always in the status of children, but in understanding we should be men. The Lord has made provision for the growth of his people and he exhorts them to grow. We should advance in knowledge: children are satisfied with trifles; we should not be. We should increase in strength, and become strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. We should also become more courageous against our foes, bold in the Lord's cause, and steadfast in our love of divine things. Our faith, our hope, our love, and our zeal should grow. We should not be stagnant, but from babes we should grow up to be young men; and from young men to fathers in Christ. In order to grow we must make use of food, exercise, and devotion; we must feed upon Christ, exercise our graces, and live in fellowship with God. That we may grow, the Lord has given us His Book, His ordinances, and His Son. He has promised that we shall "grow as the vine," and "go forth and grow up as calves of the stall." Let us set our hearts upon growing and attend to this salutary caution, "That ye be no more children."

For Meditation:
O Lord our God, forbid that we
Should always little children be;
But may our path shine more, we pray,
And more unto the perfect day.