Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

We are to walk and grow in a manner worthy of the calling on our lives (Ephesians 4:1). God promises that the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter until the full day (Proverbs 4:18). For the sake of the call, choose to grow and increase for your entire life.

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15

People around you are looking for answers. They don’t need thoughtful impressions or good ideas—they need the substance of the wisdom of God. As we grow up in God and stay in the Word, His Wisdom floods our lives and enables us to have answers for others.

Don’t get too busy or focused to notice the amazing opportunities to speak into people’s lives every day. In your family and at your work (the people who bug you the most need you the most) there are people watching your life who need you to continue growing in the things of God.

Never stop growing!
Pastor Jeff Perry
St. Louis Family Church®

Copyright © 2010 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

God’s love does not originate from our niceness—it’s been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit!

Our first increase of love needs to be toward God. We can start well in our love walk and then drift if we aren’t connected to the source. The believers in the Ephesian church, despite all their good works and perseverance, were held accountable by God because they left their first love (Revelation 2:4). If we’ve let our love grow cold, there is a way to get strengthened so that once again our love for God is central. “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Revelation 2:5a).

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

The love walk is the most vital thing you can be doing right now. As you renew your dedication to grow in your relationship with God and walk in love toward others, a by-product will be a sharpened understanding of the next steps you should take in life. As you are seeking God first, the other concerns in life will start to work out according to God’s will (Matthew 6:33)!

Press on!
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2009 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.