The presence of life necessitates growth of some sort. There is no such thing as absolute stagnation in a living organism. Yet this growth may be so retarded as to be scarcely manifest, thereby dwarfing all physical powers. The same is equally true in the spiritual world, for there is a real unity underlying all God's creation. Possessors of life from God, new born souls, must grow by the very necessity of that life. This growth may be so feeble and fitful as to be imperceptible to any eye except that of God. Where this is the case one becomes spiritually dwarfed and of little use for service or testimony, with little or no joy in the Lord.

In the case of the body, the hindrances to growth can often be discovered and removed, but many cases baffle the skill of the ablest physician. It is not so in the spiritual life. Hindrances to growth may be detected unerringly and effectually removed. We have an instrument which discovers hindering elements even before their injurious effect has been manifested. It is the Word of God as used by the Holy Spirit who dwells in each one of us. We have also the power by that same indwelling Spirit, through that Word, to judge and to remove everything that would prevent our growth.

Hindrances to spiritual growth are enumerated in the second chapter of first Peter, and these we are told to lay aside. It will be noticed that the outward and grosser forms of evil are not mentioned in this list,, but rather those more subtle and apparently harmless states of soul which really do more to quench and grieve the Holy Spirit than some glaring outbreak. The reason for this is that in the case of a glaring fault, conscience is compelled to act at once; whereas guile, malice, deceit may lurk unsuspected in the heart until their deadening influence has permeated our lives. Thus one may, by imprudence, provoke a violent attack of illness, which by its very violence compels instant and heroic treatment, while more subtle germs of disease may find a lodgment in some vital organ and work on, all hidden from view until they have gained a permanent foothold.

The same Scripture provides the means of our growth: "As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." Food is absolutely essential to all growth. Exercise without food only wastes and exhausts the system. "Word for the Lord," Christian activities, etc., if not flowing from a soul "nourished up in the words of faith" will sooner or later result in a prostration of every spiritual activity. Let us then crave, hunger for, feed upon the Word of God, and remove everything that would hinder its complete power in our lives!

—S.R.