Too many Christians stop growing after salvation. Certainly, salvation is nothing less than the most spectacular event in a Christian’s life. The spectacular doesn’t have to stop at salvation, though.

A Christian can – and should – continue down the path of an increasingly spectacular life. For me, life with Jesus keeps getting better and better. Only by the Holy Spirit’s work in my life for growth is this happening.

Growth

How can a Christian continue experiencing the spectacular life that begins at salvation? Here’s what I’m discovering to be essential in my own growth as a Christ follower.

  1. Take ownership. Your faith. Your sin. They are yours alone, and you alone will stand before God on day. Take responsibility now. (Romans 14:12)
  2. Avoid comparisons. God hates all sin. Comparisons never negate the need for confession. (James 2:10)
  3. Protect from within. The condition of the heart is everything because the attitude of the heart directs all that we do and say. Above all, protect your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
  4. Draw near. The answer to every issue, every problem, every area of stress and worry is always more of Jesus. As you draw closer to Him, He reciprocates and draws closer to you. (James 4:8)
  5. Fight distractions. A simple life only exists when distractions are continually and deliberately mitigated. The simple life lived for Christ is nothing less than spectacular. (Hebrews 12:1)

A Spectacular Life

Being a Christian involves far more than being saved. This is not lessening salvation in any way. Instead, it’s realizing that as awesome as salvation is, God has more spectacular things planned for those who not only make Him Savior but also Lord.

Making Christ Lord means living a spectacular life, one changed by His unending mercy and grace.

“Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive this new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. We have to stop evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life as begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17)