Spiritual Growth

Read Leviticus 6:8-13

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall add wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat pieces of the offerings of well-being. A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out. Leviticus 6:12-13 (NRSV)

Muyiwa Benralph Olaiya is from the Federal Capital Territory, in Nigeria. In her sister's garden, spinach blossomed with irresistible green leaves and lush shoots. Muyiwa wanted to replicate this sight at her house, so she picked some seedlings for her small garden. Weeks passed, but her spinach did not produce the same beauty. Muyiwa studied her sister's method, and she realized she had missed an important step. Every morning before going to work, she waters the garden with water from her small fishpond, providing the plants with daily nutrients, and making her garden green and lush.

The Holy Spirit taught Muyiwa a great lesson from this observation. At this time, she had not applied the principle of daily nurture to her Christianity. She woke early to beat the traffic on her way to work. If she was running late, she would skip her morning devotion or say her prayers in a hurry. Some days got so busy that she had no time to return to her devotions. This inconsistent care for her faith was precarious.

Just like the daily addition of wood kept the fire on the altar burning in Leviticus 6:12-13, the daily care her sister gives her plants keeps her garden green. To get the same result in her spiritual life, Muyiwa must pray and meditate on God's word every day. Those who blossom spiritually do not get there by chance; they consistently work at it. This is the recipe for spiritual growth.

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us when we are too busy to give attention to you. Help us to prioritize our spiritual growth by spending time with you each day, in Jesus' name. Amen.