Perhaps one of the most disturbing things we can observe is something, and in particular someone, who has failed to develop.

Many relief organizations show pictures of children who have failed to grow many times for lack of nourishment. It touches our hearts and we are inclined to assist in helping them to helping feed these individuals.

As disturbing as such pictures are, there is something more terrible, yet many times it is ignored. That is a lack of spiritual growth. Each and every Christian needs to be growing spiritually.

Peter wrote, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).

Some seem to take the denominational view of this passage and just "believe" it will happen. This is a false view and one that will lead to spiritual malnutrition.

Spiritual growth and physical growth have a lot in common. Just as there are essential elements to physical growth, there are essentials to physical growth. Let us take a look at some of these essentials.

For proper physical growth food is important. Most young parents either buy or a doctor gives them a book about when to feed and what to feed their new arrival.

When the new baby arrives, everyone understands that milk is needed for the first months of its life (a side lesson here is how wonderful our Creator is as He provides for mother to produce the food the baby needs).

Proper spiritual growth also demands food, and the right kind of food.

Again God has provided the food to be used. "I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. … This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever" (John 6:48 - 58).