From the time we are conceived as human beings, we all have one phenomenon in common—we grow! As a fetus in the womb, we begin to take on the characteristics of our fathers and mothers. Our limbs begin to take shape; our eyes, mouth, and nose develop. Physically we start to look like a human being, and so from conception to birth, we grow.

When we are born as babies, grownups are amazed by the tiny fingers and toes, the little hands and feet, and the arms and legs. However, it does not stop there. For the rest of our lives, we grow to mature adulthood aided by the food we eat, the water we drink and the breath of life. Scientists have proved that there are some parts of the body that never stop growing, so then there is constant growth in our lives.

As Christians, we all begin our spiritual lives at the moment of conception, when God’s Spirit joins with our human spirit (Romans 8:16), at which time we become babes in Christ. God the Father and Jesus Christ have a wonderful plan of salvation that They are working out with us.

Starting at that moment of conception, God and Christ expect there to be growth in our lives. As the apostle Peter admonishes us, we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We know that our physical growth is sustained by the food and water we eat, but how is this spiritual growth accomplished in our lives?

Scientists have proved that there are some parts of the body that never stop growing, so then there is constant growth in our lives.

Let us take this opportunity to look into the Word of God, and take some advice from our older brother Jesus Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount Christ makes a statement that, if followed, will help us to understand our spiritual growth process. Notice Matthew 6:28: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.” When you look at this statement, Christ could have very easily left out the last part, “how they grow,” but I believe that He was calling our attention to the specific way that the lily grows, for there is a valuable lesson here for us to learn.

How it grows

Have you ever really stopped to consider the lily and how it grows? The Greek word translated “consider” means to learn thoroughly, examine carefully, consider well. So Christ is telling us to put forth an effort to learn what we can from the growth process of the lily. He is telling us to examine this process thoroughly and carefully so that we can apply it in our spiritual lives. Once we look at this process, we will see that the growth pattern of the lily is quite similar to our growth pattern as Christians, which is why Christ told us to consider it well. So what is a lily?

You might be surprised at what scientists classify as a lily. Notice this definition from Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99: Lily, “common name for a family comprising more than 250 genera and about 4000 species of mostly herbaceous flowering plants, many with showy flowers. It contains many horticulturally important plants, including tulips, lilies, daffodils, hyacinths, day lilies, and amaryllis. Another important genus, the onion genus, contains about 700 species, usually with bulbs or corms underground and long, slender leaves starting at the ground (basal leaves). Several species are cultivated as food crops: onions and shallots, garlic, chives, and leeks.

“In the asparagus genus, the leaves are reduced to tiny scales, and the needlelike "leaves" are actually highly modified branches. Tender young shoot tips of asparagus are eaten as a delicacy. Asparagus fern is another species grown as a houseplant for its attractive foliage and for its pretty red berries. The aloe genus also belongs to the lily family and contains about 250 species native to Arabia; Africa, especially South Africa; and Madagascar.”

You can see that there are many classifications of lilies, but how do they grow? From grade school and science class, we learn that all plants grow by the process of what we call PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

Simply put, photosynthesis means to build with light. The light combines with carbon dioxide and water, to produce the growth. That is how the lilies of the field grow, and believe it or not, that is how we as Christians grow the fruits of God’s Spirit in our lives. It is by spiritual photosynthesis—building with light—that we have the energy that allows the fruit of God’s Spirit to grow in our lives. So let’s look at the spiritual process of photosynthesis, and see how we should grow.

Start with light

God uses many different analogies to describe the relationship between God and man, to show how He is working in our lives. He uses the analogy of the clay and the potter (Isaiah. 64:8), the plant and the husbandman, the building and the builder (1 Corinthians 3:9). For our purpose, we will look at the analogy of the plant and the husbandman, so that we can apply the spiritual photosynthesis of growth by light and water.

God has established that we are the plant, but what is the necessary light that we need to begin our growth? Notice John 8:12: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” We can see here that Jesus Christ is the LIGHT that we need in order to grow. Speaking of Christ, the apostle John tells us in John 1:4, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Notice, he says that the life of Jesus was the light of men, so if we are to grow spiritually, then we must have the life of Jesus in us. So how is this accomplished?

Jesus Christ is the LIGHT that we need in order to grow.

It is not just by confessing that Jesus is the Christ. No, it is by living by the Word of God each day, and Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-4). Each day that we live spiritually, we are to partake of that word of life, taking on the very thoughts and actions of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ.”

Speaking to His disciples on the night of the Passover Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). You see, Christ has set the example, and He intends us to follow.

There is a very popular saying these days, you see it everywhere—on billboards, bumper stickers and even on bracelets. It goes, What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD?) When you stop and think about it, it is not such a bad concept to follow. Our problem is, we don’t always follow it. We may say it, but we must begin to apply it our lives if we are to have any spiritual growth. When we are faced with the stresses of life, we need to ask ourselves, What would Jesus do? No matter what situation we find ourselves in, either at home or on the job, or even in church, we should ask, What would Jesus do?—and then follow His lead.

As Christians, we need to internalize the Word of God, and make it a part of our daily lives. Believe it or not, no matter what difficult situation you find yourself in, the solution to your problem can be found in the Word of God. All you need to do is search out the answer in the Word, and live by it (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

So Jesus Christ is that spiritual light that we need to grow, but what about the water that is necessary?

Then add water

In the Bible, water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit of God. Notice John 7:37-39: “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

When we receive this WATER of the Holy Spirit, it opens up our minds to be able to understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). It was this Spirit that Jesus Christ promised that He would send His disciples (John 14:15-17, 26). As we apply the power of the Holy Spirit to the life of Christ, then the fruit of the Spirit will develop in our lives. It is this fruit of the Spirit that God and Christ want to see in our lives (John 15:1-16; Galatians 5:22-23).

And GROW!

Physically speaking, we grow daily by the intake of food and water that nourishes and strengthens our bodies. Spiritually speaking, we also grow daily by that intake of light or food, and water that strengthens us spiritually. When we partake of this spiritual photosynthesis—the light of the life of Jesus Christ and the water of the Holy Spirit—then we can achieve that necessary growth, because God will give us the increase. Speaking to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul tells them, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

When we partake of this spiritual photosynthesis then we can achieve that necessary growth, because God will give us the increase.

Admonished by Christ to “consider the lilies of the field, how they grow,” we come to understand the physical process of photosynthesis, or growth by light and water. We can then take this physical process and relate it to the spiritual process of photosynthesis so that we can fulfill the instructions of the apostle Peter, to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are to take careful thought of that light and life of Christ; we are to yield ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. Then we will be able to achieve spiritually what all mankind achieves physically—we will GROW as God gives us the increase. And just as there is constant growth physically, we should also have constant growth spiritually.

So each day of your life as you eat and drink to sustain your physical life, take the time to stop and consider the lilies of the field and how they grow, and strive to bring about the spiritual growth that is so vitally necessary.