It is the nature of living things to grow.  Each living organism starts in the seed, egg, or embryo stage and then gradually grows to its genetic potential; not only that, living things work relentlessly at expanding the number of their own kind. Growth is both individual and reproductive.

There’s no surprise then to find that the life of God within us operates in much the same way.  LIFE germinates sprouts, matures flowers, bears fruit, and reproduces itself. The new life of the Spirit of Christ starts as an event then continues as a process.  All the ingredients that are present at the beginning continue to operate in an ever-increasing maturity.

The “old things have passed away, all things have become new” statement of scripture is true.  The regenerated soul is radically changed in its content and operational principles.  But it is seed-like.  It now must live out its changes in time and space as a growing spiritual life form.  This is the work of a lifetime.

This chapter seeks to understand the growth process as an ongoing “take-over”.  Salvation gives the Spirit the license to conquer every part of us. The Christian lifestyle is then the practice of ongoing cooperation with His management.

In my own Christian growth experience compartmentalizing has been my worst nightmare.  I have a diabolical capacity to section off parts of my life so I can operate them out-from-under God’s control.  I find that I do this unconsciously and instinctively, like an alarmed snail shrinks back into its shell.  Like the graphic on page 179, my development has been uneven.  Some compartments have seen radical change.  Others have been slow to comply.

One of the mistakes we often make is comparison with other Christ-followers.  We will always compare favorably in some sections but unfavorably in others.  Judging each other, which we are clearly instructed not to do, is so dishonest.  We can always find others who do not have the same degree of growth in areas where our compliance with the Spirit is strong.  The result of putting our strengths on display and hiding our weaknesses is hypocrisy.

Notice one more thing while we’re still thinking about the compartment diagram.  Those compartments where the Spirit hasn’t been able to establish much control are what I call “points of resistance”.  They are quite dangerous.  If I develop the habit of saying “No” to the promptings of the indwelling Spirit in a particular place in my life it will have a ripple effect into other categories.  Refusing the Spirit’s leadership is never static.  It always destroys the surrender that has already been established in nearby compartments. Saying “Yes” to God’s Spirit as a lifelong habit defines the growing edge of your life.