By Pastor Stephen Hess –
You may have heard it said that in life, “There are no shortcuts.” While this may be true, it certainly hasn’t stopped people from trying to find them. People who lie on resumes and college admissions applications are trying to take shortcuts to achieve success. People who get sucked into get-rich-quick schemes are trying to take shortcuts to achieve wealth. People who take performance enhancing drugs are trying to take shortcuts to achieve victory. We all desire instant results, and we are constantly seeking shortcuts to get them. Unfortunately, many of us have learned the hard way that there really are no shortcuts. Even when our supposed shortcuts give us the temporary illusion of achieving our goals, they usually fail us in the end.
The same principles are true when it comes to our spiritual growth. Most Christians know that it is God’s will for us to grow in spiritual maturity. The Bible calls this process “sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). However, instead of following God’s prescribed means of sanctification we often seek spiritual shortcuts. We look for the latest spiritual fads and techniques that we think will instantly mature our faith. We attend Christian events hoping that they will bring us intimacy with God. Perhaps we even hop from church to church thinking that a new congregation will supercharge our spiritual lives. Many Christians spend years pursuing these paths but never maturing in their faith. Why? Because they are trying to take spiritual shortcuts.
When it comes to spiritual maturity, there are no shortcuts. If we want to experience sanctification, we need to stop pursuing our own methods and instead follow the means for spiritual growth that God has prescribed in his word. In the Reformed tradition, we call these “the means of grace.” The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines the means of grace this way: “The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation” (WSC Q.88).
All the benefits of our redemption were achieved by Jesus on the cross and are applied to our lives by the Holy Spirit. But the means that the Holy Spirit uses to apply these benefits to our lives are the means of grace. This has many applications for the church today, but one simple application is this: If Christians want to pursue spiritual maturity, then we need to recognize that there are no shortcuts and recommit ourselves to the ordinary means of grace.
First, we need to be people who are committed to the word. We need to be reading Scripture daily in our personal lives and with our families. We need to be studying Scripture regularly with other believers. We also need to be listening to Scripture weekly in the context of corporate worship as we gather around God’s word. Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). This is a reminder that Scripture is essential to our spiritual growth.
Second, we need to be people who are committed to the sacraments. Many people today understand the sacraments as mere reminders of what Christ has done for us, but the Reformers understood them to be much more than that. They are not just signs of the new covenant, but also seals that bond us together with Christ and nourish us in the faith. Therefore, we must utilize the sacraments, particularly the regular participation in the Lord’s Supper, to grow in faith.
Third, we need to be people who are committed to prayer. Prayer is the primary means by which we communicate with God and experience fellowship with him. Therefore, prayer is essential for our sanctification. Perhaps this is why Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Our devotional lives, our relationships, and our worship must be saturated with prayer if we want to grow in Christian maturity.
It is God’s will for Christians to grow spiritually. This is why Peter said, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). However, there are no shortcuts to spiritual growth. If we want to grow in grace, then we must utilize the ordinary means of grace. These are his gifts for his children, so let us use them well!