Growing Up

Growing old is not the same as growing up. Few things are more tragic than Christian people who have added only years to their dossier and derriere, rather than maturing as believers in Christ Jesus.

As long as we are able, we are to keep maturing in all the ways we can. Twice, Luke (in his gospel of Jesus) tells us about Jesus growing up. After His birth, circumcision and presentation at the temple in Luke 2:39, 40 he writes:
"And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”

After Jesus' parents got lost and left Him in the Temple when He was twelve, we read in Verses 51, 52:

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

 
Matthew tells us His toddler years included a trip to Africa fleeing madman Herod's sword (Matthew 2:13-23). When Jesus' family repatriated to Roman-occupied Israel, they lived in Nazareth.

As much as we would like to speculate about Jesus as a boy, all we are left to mull over is that he was obedient to his parents and that He grew up. Mind you, these are no small matters. Even in childhood, Jesus is THE example for us.

"He grew" we read. This is an umbrella description that seems bland unless you consider its opposite. New parents watch to make sure their child is growing. If they stop progressing in any realm, they head to the Doctor.

Our Heavenly Father is monitoring our growth as well. In fact, the letters to the churches in the New Testament are properly obsessed with matters of maturity. Are you growing up? Have you changed much in the past years for the good?

Getting more specific, we read that Jesus "became strong and grew in stature." Our love for God is to include our heart soul, mind and strength. Learning carpentry, which included woodwork and masonry, Jesus was a man's man. Forget those pictures of a pansy in your old children's Bible. Our bodies are even called His temple in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 9:27. We are to glorify God with our body.

Jesus grew, as we also must, in wisdom. He was not a divine data depository, yet He was "filled with wisdom." We see this when He stayed at the Temple at age 12, a pivotal year when Jewish boys transition into manhood.

He sat listening to the teachers, asking them questions - ones that astonished all who heard Him. His questions revealed such insight that they were motivated to ask His take on Scripture. What passes for Bible teaching on much of Christian radio and TV and even in pulpits today is amazing. Where is the discernment and sane, Biblical discretion once shown by those in the faith? Spiritual counterfeits will continue to freely fleece the flock with their folly as long as believers stay ignorant and immature.

Luke said next that "God's grace was upon Him”. He grew "in favor with God." Jesus, as a human, spiritually matured. Here is a phrase for you: "He learned obedience through the things that He suffered" according to Hebrews 5:8. Yes, even Jesus learned obedience.

We learn to obey through disobedience, God's discipline, forgiveness and restoration. Christ learned it through life's trials, being tempted by the Devil and rejected by His own people. In the Garden, He honestly states His preference to not be crucified. Yet, in the face of torture and humiliation, we hear Jesus say, "Father, not My will but Thine be done."

As we live in the realm of obedience, we are in the place where God can favor rather than discipline us. He cannot love us more than He already has or does. However, we can live in such a way that He can bless us beyond our own comprehension.

Finally, we discover that Jesus grew in favor with man. Having favor with man does not mean you are compromising truth or snuggling up to the world. Common ones received Jesus gladly. Sometimes the crowds around Jesus swelled as they hoped for another free lunch or a miracle show like in John 6. Yet, we also know social outcasts and serious sinners felt at home in His presence. Children loved Him and they are often still today a great test of character.

So, it is time to grow up and to keep pressing on according to Philippians 3. As we face a still young year and in these last 3 days of our 21 Days of prayer, let’s repent of any spiritual stagnation in our lives. With God's help, let’s commit to further growth in Him through prayer during the remaining 10 months of 2012.