The life of a Christian is a journey. It should not be considered a destination. Every day, we advance in our relationship with Christ, and that is the most compelling model that our Eternal Father has given us to imitate. The law was effective at passing judgment, but Jesus’ life was a much greater model to follow. But this in no way diminishes the significance of the law, because only through the law can we understand what constitutes sin. The more we see, the more we know, the more we feel, the more we do, and the more we repent of our sins, the more spiritually mature we become. Everything is determined by how closely we are connected to God! In a nutshell, we are advancing in grace (just as Peter tells we would in 2 Peter 3:18).
We are going to focus our attention on the aspects of living a Christian life that are considered to be the most crucial. Because these are the conduits through which spiritual strength flows from God, no one who neglects the spiritual “big four”—Bible study, prayer, meditation, and occasional fasting—can expect to make any progress in sanctification. These are the channels through which spiritual power comes from God. That is why it is of the utmost significance to have access to God through Jesus Christ. These efforts produce faith, which leads to obedience, which in turn leads to an increase in fresh sources of His favour. It is not a one-time task but rather something that must be done every day. You can’t expect to mature overnight. It takes many years for it to mature. God is preparing us for our eternal home in paradise with this present life.
It is correct to say that there are no spiritual gains that do not come with associated suffering. Would it be reasonable for us to expect a student to pass his test if he has not looked at his textbooks for even a single day? Is it possible for you to pass your test without studying? Are you able to successfully do an interview without any prior preparation? When working toward a goal, even the most intelligent person must put in at least a little bit of effort. Is it not true that the Bible quotes God as saying in James 3:18 that “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”? It is necessary to plant the seeds of righteous behaviour. That requires effort.
What are some of the results of living a good life? Love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness, kindness, faith, and self-control are some of them, but for them to flourish, they need to be sown, fertilized, cultivated, and trimmed. A process is visible to us. Sanctification can no longer be concealed once those fruits begin to be produced, just as it is no longer possible to conceal the fruits that are growing on a tree. Because obedience, Bible study, prayer, fasting, meditation, and fasting are how spiritual life is sown, nourished, fertilized, and tended to in order for fruit to be created, we will never achieve holiness if we do not engage in these practices.
God bless