In his final section on Christian growth, Ryle address the
means by which we grow as Christians. He refers to one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 13:4, to encourage us.
"The soul of the diligent shall be made fat."
1) Diligence in the use of private means of grace is essential to growth in grace. This would include: private prayer, private reading of the Scriptures, and private meditation and self-examination. Ryle describes these as the "roots of true Christianity." Neglect of these practices is the central reason that so many professing Christians remain stagnant.
"They are careless and slovenly about their private prayers. They read their Bibles, but little, and with very little heartiness of spirit. They give themselves no time for self-inquiry and quiet thought about the state of their souls."
He reminds us that we must diligently attend to these private disciplines if we expect to grow as Christians.
2) Carefulness in the use of public means of grace is another means of growth. This category would include regular Sunday worship, uniting with God's people in prayer and praise, the preaching of the Word, and the Lord's Supper. Ryle cautions against a familiarity with these that breeds contempt and carelessness. Just as it is a sign of sickness when someone loses his appetite for food, "it is a sign of spiritual decline when we lose our appetite for means of grace." We should remember Ecclesiastes 9:10, doing all of these things with our might.
3) Watchfulness over our conduct in the little matters of everyday life is another means by which Christians grow in grace. Our love for Christ must manifest itself in the least things as well as the greatest.
"Our tempers, our tongues, the discharge of our several relations of life, our employment of time--each and all must be vigilantly attended to if we wish our soul to prosper. Life is made up of days, and days of hours, and the little things of every hour are never so little as to be beneath the care of a Christian."
4) Caution about the company we keep and the friendships we form is also essential to Christian growth. We must remember that deliberate fellowship with those who do not love God and seek to glorify Him will affect us. Serving Christ is difficult enough, but it is even more so when our friends are not such as will "stir us up about our prayers, our Bible reading, and our employment of time--about our souls, our salvation, and a world to come."
"We catch the ways and tone of those we live and talk with, and unhappily get harm far more easily than good."
5) Another essential for Christian growth is regular and habitual communion with the Lord Jesus. By this Ryle means the daily practice of communing with our Saviour, which can only happen by faith, prayer, and meditation.
"Such a habit of dealing with Christ is clearly something more than a vague general trust in the work that Christ did for sinners. It is getting close to him, and laying hold on him with condfidence, as a loving personal Friend. This is what I mean by communion."
Every day should be spent "leaning on and looking to Him."
Ryles closes this chapter with many cautions. He reminds us of the brevity of life. We live as though we are asleep about our souls. If you don't know Christ, don't just "stand still talking, and meaning, and intending, and wishing, and hoping. Seek Christ that you may live, and that living you may grow."
For those who do profess to be Christians yet are not growing in grace, you must recognize that there is "a fault, and a serious fault somewhere." He urges you to find the reason for your "standstill condition."
"Begin with an application to the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Physician of souls, and ask Him to heal the secret ailment within you, whatever it may be. But never, never be content, if your soul does not grow."
Next, he reminds us, there are those who are really growing in grace but are not aware of it. "Their very growth is the reason why they do not see their growth!" A deep sense of unworthiness is what marks this growing Christian.
"So many a precious soul is rich in grace, and others see it, and know it, and bless God for it, and yet the poor soul perceives it not." (T. Brooks, 1661)
Finally, Ryle urges us to not measure our growth by our neighbor's because we will forever be debtors to Christ's mercy and grace. There's plenty to do just by focusing on our own hearts. In addition, we must remember that growth comes by trials and affliction. It is by these that much pruning is done, and they are required to keep us "humble, watchful, and spiritual minded."
Are we growing?
~yep, she got caught in the sprinkles
Top with ice cream.
Then, enjoy the smiles, squeals of delight, and words of praise like those from my Boo ..."Mommy, you done a great job!"
Yesterday, as we were about to have our Morning Time, Anonymous Child rushed into the room in a panic, shouting Little Bit's name. Knowing the wonderful time the boys had yesterday with the bug kit, I immediately thought perhaps she had, in her amazing way, found the poison. I rushed to the living room, finding instead our glass door totally cracked but completely intact. 
~an empty bread bag laying outside the bedroom door.......then, I discovered this
~my tea cup....EMPTY! I peeked around the corner to next see this
~with a lollipop in her mouth
~and a big smile on her face to start the day (and to persuade Mama that her crimes were most innocently committed!)
Start with 5-1/2 lbs. of apples (they taste even better when a friend gives them to you!) Feel free to mix and match.
Pour over apples and mix well.
Place in greased crock pot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Decrease heat to low; cover and cook on low for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally.
