So, I was reading a book the other day and the author was relating how she had been struggling with something (she didn’t even remember the details of what it was) she went to a Christian counselor to help her sort things out. After relating whatever it was that was bothering her, the Christian counselor said “Grow Up!” Ouch! Doesn’t seem like something you’d hear from a professional counselor, does it? I mean after all, she’s paying for this advice. Now she didn’t say, oh grow up, like we would say when we’re impatient or frustrated with someone. It was said with the kindest intentions – with the intent to encourage someone to, well…grow up, move on, get over it, rise above. I don’t know about you, but when I read that, I thought to myself, yep I could use me some growing up. You too?
How do we grow up from the many things that bother us in a day that we can’t even remember the next day, but we spent so much time and energy on the previous day? How do we mature ourselves? We get into the Word of God. Therein lies the secret to growing up. Getting into the Word of God and then applying the Word of God to our lives. I know this is a common theme, imagine that, a Jesus blog that encourages spending most of your life in the Word of God, but that’s how growing up is done. Without food there is no growth.
Spending time in the Word is not an exercise in self-improvement. The Word of God was not written about us, it was written about God. The Word was not written so we can be better people, it was written so that we may become Godly people. Spending time in the Word is really about growing up. Growing up is completely dependent on Whose you are, not who you are.
Spending time in the Word of God leads to the adoration of God. If it doesn’t, it is pointless. Growing up, maturing, is a process of development. Growing is about becoming. If we are not growing we are declining. If we aren’t knowing more, we are knowing less. Why so? Because the world is constantly moving, life is constantly changing, we grow or we are left behind. Grow we must in love, in the Spirit, in knowledge, in Christ.
The world we live in right now is crazy. Our daily lives look different than they did a month ago. But, Praise God for the amazing blessing – more time on our hands. For those of us who have always said if I had more time I’d read my Bible more, you’ve got it! No excuses. Here’s the thing, take just a minute to imagine what the world would look like in 30 days if we all committed to reading the Word of God daily. What would our lives look like if we shifted our focus from self adoration to God adoration? What if we allowed our love for God to change our lives? Sometimes our life circumstances require us to grow up faster than we expected or even wanted. Maybe now.
So, with the kindest intentions and the intent to encourage you, I say (and I hope you say to me) grow up, move on, get over it, rise above, no more excuses.
Wednesday – Matthew 26:1-13. You think Jesus ever wanted to say to people, grow up? Those who knew Him, had heard His teachings, had witnessed His healings and still needed growing up, didn’t they? From Caiaphas to the disciples.
Thursday – Passover ends this evening. Read Matthew 26:14-30. Although the disciples may not have realized it, this was no ordinary Passover meal. How would this Passover meal look different than those celebrations in the past? How did the disciples prepare for Passover? What is communion?
Friday – Read Matthew 26:31-35. Look through the scriptures and right down each instance of Peter’s denial of Jesus. Peter’s story is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and growth. It’s also our story, right? Peter was not perfect, neither are we; however, Peter grew up because His faith was tested. Look at Peter’s life. Look at our lives. Have we grown? Are we growing in Christ?
Saturday – Read Matthew 26:36-46. I can so relate to Peter, James and John. How so, you say? Hasn’t your faith ever fallen asleep? Jesus told Peter to keep alert and pray or temptation will overpower. Isn’t that the same for us? Growing up means being alert, keeping our eyes open for overpowering temptations.
Sunday – Read Luke 2:21-40. Simeon and Anna. They had been waiting for the promised King. Jesus was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem as an eight-day-old to be circumcised. In an instant they recognized Jesus, at eight-days-old. Simeon prophesied that Jesus would be the light of the world. Anna told everyone the King had come. Simeon and Anna were grown up, mature in the faith, folks who were unusually close to God. Where did they spend their time? What did they spend their time doing? How else did they know that Jesus was the Messiah?
Monday – Read Luke 21:41-52. These last thirty one verses (including yesterday’s) take us from an eight-day-old Jesus in the Temple, to a 12 year old Jesus, to an adult Jesus. Where was Jesus found? In the Temple. Sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them., growing up – trying to grow them up. What were Jesus’s practices? Spending time with the Father.
Tuesday – Read Hebrews 4:12-6:12. What do these verses say about growing up? Are we reluctant to move beyond the basics? What’s holding us back? Growing up is the process of obedience, even when it’s hard. Jesus was obedient unto death. His death for our life.