Divine-Human Cooperation

It is important to note that true spiritual growth and transformation into the image of Christ from “glory to glory” is ultimately a work of God in our lives. This means that we cannot produce spiritual growth through human effort any more than we can make the leaves grow on a tree.

But this does not mean that we are to do nothing. In fact, Scripture is clear that we are to pursue Christlikeness and discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness. While I can’t make the leaves grow, I can cultivate the soil around a plant, get it appropriate water and sunlight so that it can grow.

What Scripture calls for is a divine-human cooperation.

Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:1

Is spiritual growth produced by human effort? No

Is spiritual growth the result of a work of God in our heart? Yes

Does this mean we don’t do anything? No

If true spiritual growth and transformation is a work of God, then the spiritual disciplines are a means of positioning ourselves to receive God’s grace.

This can be illustrated through the stories of Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus (Luke 18:35-43; 19:1-10). Both of these men were transformed by the power of Christ through voluntarily placing themselves in his pathway. The spiritual disciplines are a way of seeking Christ and placing ourselves in the pathway of the transforming grace and power of Jesus.

Richard Foster has said, “God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us… By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.”