Articles
Growth
The timber bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) is the world’s fastest growing plant and grows
an amazing 2 to 3 feet a day until it reaches 45 feet or higher. The world's slowest growing plant
is the Puya raimondii. This rare bromeliad species was discovered in the Bolivian mountains in
1870. It takes approximately 80 to 150 years to flower, and it dies soon after blooming. Both of
these plants have something in common —they must grow to live.
Growth is part of all life in our world. Even as humans, we must continue to grow
through our whole life. About 100 million new red blood cells are being formed in our body
every minute! The lining of our stomach is replaced every 2- 9 days. Your entire skeleton is
replaced every 10 years. There is very little of us still around that was with us when we were
born. The cells that make up the lens in your eye, the neurons in your brain, and about half of
your heart cells stick with you for your whole life. What we all want and need is good purposeful
growth. In a healthy body, old cells must die to make room for new cells. It is God’s design for
our bodies to repair and rebuild.
We must be willing to grow to be acceptable to God. “Like newborn babies, long for the
pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” (1 Peter 2:2, NIV).
Our growth must have purpose and direction. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Pet.
3:18, NIV). Like our own bodies, we have to grow spiritually. Old things have to be done away
with to make room for growth and a healthy body. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the
gardener. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear
fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I
have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it
must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me” (John 15:1-4,
NIV).
Our old life, sin, and our own selfishness must be done away with for us to grow and be
fruitful for the Lord. ~B Tolbert
