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An Initiative of Church of God, the Father’s Call

Ways to Measure Spiritual Growth

September 17, 2022

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As followers of God, we have chosen to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. There are two main ways for us to measure our spiritual growth – motivation and action. Motivation is the internal desire to grow, to change, to accept God’s perspectives and motivations in all aspects of our lives.  Action is a literal external behavioral change – the evidence of that motivation. It is a change that can be perceived and observed in our daily lives.

All motivation and actions are triggered by our thoughts – by our way of thinking. The process of God’s thinking becoming a part of our thinking is often hampered by our failure to comprehend the huge gulf that exists between our thoughts and God’s thoughts: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The meaning of the Hebrew word translated “thoughts” includes the content of reasoning, a scheme or structure as a rational thought, a plan to create something and the purpose which implies a certain desire. So, we can conclude that God’s thoughts define who He is. They are His essence, His heart.

How Christ lived His life while on earth is key to understanding who God the Father is – the “why” (motivation) and the “how” (action) of Their Way of Life. So, we need to understand that Christ came to serve not to be served and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Christ living as a servant was not a temporary role for just the brief physical time that He was on earth. Christ did not live one way of life for eternity, become a man (human being), live another way on earth and then return to heaven to return to a previous or new way (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). He inspired His prophets and apostles to reveal His way of peaceful, service filled relationships.

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul appeals to the brethren in Philippi to live together in harmony and peace. He tells them the way to this harmony is through the putting away of selfish ambition, through humility, by esteeming others better that themselves and looking out for the interests of others.

We read in Philippians 2:5-8  the extent of Christ’s service and love: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Paul took meticulous care in choosing his words. Hel did not point first to Christ’s actions.  He pointed to His thinking – the basis for His actions: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”  The Greek for mind is “phronéō” which means “to think.”  Paul is instructing that our thinking needs to rise to the higher level of Christ’s.

“who, being in the form of God,” (Philippians 2:6): The word for “being” is huparcho.  Per William Barclay’s commentary on huparcho — “It describes that which a man is in his very essence and which cannot be changed.  It describes that part of a man which, in any circumstances, remains the same. So, Paul [is] saying that Jesus was essentially and unalterably God.”

Looking at the word “form” we read that there are two Greek words for form – morphe and schema. These two Greek words are used in verses 6, 7 and 8.  Morphe means the essential form or part that never alters. Schema is the outward form or appearance one sees that changes from time to time and from circumstance to circumstance.

For example, the morphe of any man is his humanity, which never changes.  He is always human. But man’s schema is continually changing. He grows from an embryo, to a baby, to a child, to adolescence, to a middle age man, to an old man.  His outward appearance changes (schema), but his humanity never does (morphe).

“. . . he did not demand and cling to his rights as God” (Philippians 2:6 NLT). Christ had every right and privilege available to Him as God, but He did not hang on to them jealously or hold them over mankind’s head. Christ willingly, mercifully and graciously lowered Himself for man’s sake.

“but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).  Nearly this entire phrase is translated from the Greek verb “kenoun” which means “to empty”.  As to pour out the contents of a container until it is completely empty. Paul uses this word to make clear the sacrifice made by the Word to become a man (John 1.1,14). He willingly gave up the glory He had with the Father to become a man and live His life with us and for us. He emptied Himself of His power in the spiritual realm as an equal of the Godhead and as the Word. His role was changed; becoming a Savior and emulating for humanity a role and relationship they are meant to have with the Father.

Both the Father and the Son’s actions are filled with a deep desire to console, strengthen and serve humanity: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).

Paul tells us how we can fulfill our service to humanity, the Church and God:

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:1–4).

In order to serve in a way that people see sincerity in our actions, we must first possess a deep love; sympathy and empathy for their circumstances.  We also need to understand what their immediate needs are. Too often we may try to “fix” them with our solutions. We truly need to just ask God if there is anything we can do to help and that may include asking them. Often our prayers are the greatest service to anyone because some situations are too complex for us, and it is God alone who can help a person in emotional or spiritual distress. 

As people of God, our service to Him is to transform our thoughts into His. Our values into His. Let His mind be in you.

Bill Hutchison

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Action, Christ, Grace, Knowledge, Motivation, Service

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