Day Three -- Growing with Christ

Christians value personal growth because growing – increasing, gaining, developing – is something God has programmed into us as human beings. And we know from what God teaches us in His nature that growth takes care and nurture. Witness the growth of a plant in the garden or of a kitten becoming a cat, or a baby human child becoming a toddler.

Luke's concluding comments about Jesus' Childhood in Luke 2 are insightful about our own growth. (2:52) “And Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in grace with God and man.”2. Jesus grew in four ways Wing his youth according to verse 52:

a. Intellectually - "in wisdom"
b. Physically- "in stature"
c. Spiritually - "in favor with God"
d. Socially - "in favor with man"
There are four major areas of human growth and life -- they are all touched upon in Luke 2:52. Jesus grew in a balanced way, a four-fold way. As we begin the New Year it is a good time to give ourselves a check-up in these four areas.

How are we growing in wisdom? Are we studying God's Word? That is where the ultimate wisdom is found. Earthly wisdom, such as how to operate in a trade or a job, can be helpful. But ultimate wisdom is found in God's Word, and we acquire much of it through reading, study and meditation with the minds that God so wonderfully gave us. What are you doing to increase your wisdom this month?

Physical exercise is of some worth to us, because we get around in these physical bodies and we need to take care of them so we can do the Lord's work in this world. What can you do to help yourself physically? Do you need to exercise a bit more. Do you need to make better choices in your eating? The old rule I learned in computer class goes for our bodies, too. Garbage in, Garbage out. Junk food makes our bodies junky. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn. But it is a true one. What are you doing to increase or maintain your health this month?

Our social life is very important because God made us to be with other people. This has been true since Genesis and Adam and Eve. We are connectional people. One important lesson we learn is to choose our friends carefully. Who you hang out with can hang you if you make bad choices of friends. That is why it important for Christians to socialize with other Christians, to help each other and lift each other up. That is why church is so important. How is you social life? If you are married, can you show your spouse more love? How about your friends? Do you lift them up, or do they bring you down?

Finally, there is the foundational area that affects all areas in a wonderful way -- the Spiritual part of life, the part that connects us with God. Have you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you and to be your guide? Do you nourish yourself with daily prayer and Bible Reading and going to church every week? What can you do to foster your own spiritual growth and to help others to grow in the Lord this month?

We all need to grow, to be like the Sea of Galilee, with life for ourselves and to be life-giving to those who come near us. We must not be Dead Sea people, stagnant and lifeless, and not helping to sustain and affirm those who come near. Grow with God in 2008!