A living faith manifests itself in good works. Billy Graham said, “We are justified before God by faith and we are justified before men by works”. The world justifies the Christian by his life. Our Lord subscribed to this standard of judgment when He said, “By their fruits you shall know them” Matt. 7:20.
Practical Christianity manifests in every facet of life beginning with personal growth in daily walk with the Lord. Growth is an essential component of living organism. It is used for spiritual, physical and mental life. It is expected that everything that carries life must change form. Such object must increase in size, height and value. If you engage in anything and you don’t see any sign of changes in form then it is either you are in the wrong endeavour or that thing is lifeless. Every believer and more especially church worker should grow.
Bill Bright once said, "The study of the Word of God and the practice of prayer are vitally important for spiritual growth. We may miss a day without feeding on the Word of God or praying and not feel any apparent ill effects in our lives, but if we continue this practice, we will lose the power to live the victorious Christian life." The Bible is a record of growth from one family, to a nation and now nations all over the world. Israel nation is described as a shoot planted of God but through unfaithfulness refused to grow. Isaiah 60:21 “I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” When they returned to the Lord, the Lord said when Israel returned seeking forgiveness: “I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the corn. He will blossom like a vine” Hos 14:5–7
A Christian is sometimes portrayed as one who is “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” Psalms 1:3. The picture is of a tree that is fruitful because it has strong roots and is well watered. An effective worker is well rooted in the Word of God; growing and yielding fruit in the kingdom services. The same ideas are found in Psalm 92:12–15 and Jeremiah 17:7ff. The illustration used in these passages is that there is strength and fruitfulness in the spiritual realm only by trusting God, delighting in the law of the Lord and living rightly.
These images show God’s sovereignty and power to revive, but at the same time they show human responsibility to respond positively to God.
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