^{“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.}

^{And in all your getting, get understanding.”}

^{(Proverbs 4:7)}

 One of my best-loved books, apart from the Bible, is a little publication called “Principles of Spirit Growth” by Miles J Stanford. It may not be the most exciting title on the shelf, but the contents themselves are rich, reliable, faith-building, and wonderfully practical!

The copy on my desk is so well-used that the spine is torn and ragged, and I have to scoop up the pages in order to keep it intact. I did buy a new version … but I still much prefer the original, falling-apart, faithful companion that has steadied my heart on many a wobbly occasion through the decades!

The little book is one of the fruits of Miles’ “deep heart-hunger for spiritual growth” (his own words). From the age of 27, this hunger led him to study the Bible for eight to ten hours daily. Originally from Illinois, he worked overseas for some years and then felt led to settle quietly in a room in New York to continue pouring over God’s Word.

He also studied the writings of numerous authors and included their insights, along with his own, in a series of letters on aspects of Christian living which he mailed regularly to a number of interested friends. During that time, he said that “body and soul were kept together – barely – by manning a restaurant dishwasher.”

In the years that followed, Miles was soon able to move on from his dishwasher job, and found that his letters were developing into a vibrant teaching-by-correspondence ministry. He complemented this by teaching in churches and in home-based meetings, together with his wife, Cornelia, who shared his passion to help other believers to develop spiritually.

Eventually, all his letters were collected and published together in the book “The Complete Green Letters”, which has been translated into over a dozen languages. The little book I mentioned in my first paragraph (“Principles of Spirit Growth”) now forms “Part One” of this larger publication.

The common theme in all of Miles’ letters is “Not I, but Christ”, and our identification with Christ in His death, resurrection and ascension. 

Speaking of the Christian life, Miles said: “Our part is not production, but reception of our life in Christ. This entails Bible-based fact finding; explicit faith in Him and His purpose for us in Christ; and patient trust while He takes us through the necessary processing involved.” 

There are many of his writings that I could mention, but may I share an excerpt that is lying open on my desk just now, and which I find very helpful and practical. In the excerpt, he quotes from JW Sanderson, Jr, and also from William R Newell’s book “Romans, Verse by Verse”, which Miles described as “the anchor book of them all in the growth realm”.

It appears under the subtitle “Acceptance”:

 “God’s basis must be our basis for acceptance. There is none other. We are “accepted in the Beloved.” … Thank God, He has accepted us in His Son, and upon this fact we must rest our faith. As in justification, our acceptance is by Grace alone. In his classic, “Romans, Verse by Verse”, William R. Newell presents some penetrating thoughts regarding this grace:

… “Grace, once bestowed, is not withdrawn: for God knew all the human exigencies beforehand: His action was independent of them, not dependent upon them.”

“To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.”

“To refuse to make ‘resolutions’ and ‘vows’; for that is to trust in the flesh.”

“To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth.”

“To rely on God’s chastening (child training) hand as a mark of His kindness.”

“To ‘hope to be better’ (hence acceptable) is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.”

“To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself.”

“To be discouraged is unbelief – as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.”

“To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.”

“The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion.”

“To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order, and preach law, not grace.”

… “Have we been afraid to really believe God? … To promise a man the certainty of his destiny may seem, on the human level, like playing with fire; but this leaves God out of the picture. Those who have the deepest appreciation of grace do not continue in sin. Moreover, fear produces the obedience of slaves; love engenders the obedience of sons.” – J.W. Sanderson, Jr.

“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8). Until the Christian is absolutely and scripturally sure of his standing, he is not going to do much standing. “Stand therefore” (Eph. 6:14a).

“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work (2 Thess. 2:16,17).”

This excerpt is taken from pages 19, 20 and 21 of the original booklet “Principles of Spiritual Growth” by Miles Stanford. Back to the Bible Publications, 1974. 

By Ann Shakespeare   17 August 2021