Re:Verse reading–Luke 2:39-52 (Day one)
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”–v 52.
It is our secret weapon! We humans can grow. Change. Adapt. Learn.
The childhood of Christ sets the pattern. Like us, the Lord grew. Many simultaneous areas of life. Intellectually. Physically. Spiritually. Socially. Nothing about the Lord was “perfect” if you mean a static condition that makes growth and progress unnecessary.
Becomes harder in adulthood. More excuses accepted. But the need for growth never goes away.
The story is told of the mountaineer who spoke one day to Mt. Everest ( before it had been conquered in the modern era) “You have defeated us once. You have defeated us twice, three times. But someday we will defeat you. You cannot grow any taller, but we can.”
What persistent problem/challenge of your life could be conquered if you learned/changed? It will likely stay the same, but you can grow!
“In life, growth is imminent. And, growth without change, is unthinkable. And, to make the unthinkable thinkable, new roads need to be carved out by way of old ones. The old stands tall and firm and befriends the new to fall into place, with refined maturity and greater understanding and cultured admiration. It’s simply pure Magic.”
~~~Sandeep N. Tripathi
From my perspectives, life without growth in wisdom and maturity is dead! Change is unavoidable as society continues to change. Life without continuous learning is dead. Open our hearts, think outside the box and allow for new perspectives to take shape are evidence of growth. Growth is the evidence of life. Continuous learning is evidence of growth!
Where do we belong if we cannot keep up with the changing society? Where do we belong if we disengage in the change effort that is taking place in our surroundings? Where do we belong if we have a hardened heart, closed minds and closed eyes?
In life, we will be left behind or will be forgotten if we keep thinking inside the box when society has changed drastically. So get on the train for positive thoughts toward eternity and steer together toward the desired future! God will be with us all the way when we get on his spiritual train. The path to eternity requires us to change our sinful nature and step up our efforts to continue to learn God’s Word and to fulfill God’s will.
The rate of growth does not matter as it depends on other situational factors but as long as we work toward growth, whether personal, professional, or spiritual, intellectual, or emotional, we should find a high level of self-fulfillment and self-satisfaction and a healthier, happier society. I am convinced that when we grow in Christ, we will please ourselves, will please God and we will experience peace!
I value continuous learning and growth in Christ, in spirit and in actions. In Christ, we find amazing love for the sick, the lost, and the disadvantaged. Peace and joy will come when we pay a little more attention to those that are important to Jesus! Together we can make a difference!
I will close here with this insight as it helps shape the mindset for development and growth for all generations, “Today is a new day and it brings with it a new set of opportunities for me to act on. I am attentive to the opportunities and I seize them as they arise. I have full confidence in myself and my abilities. I can do all things that I commit myself to. No obstacle is too big or too difficult for me to handle because what lies inside me is greater than what lies ahead of me. I am committed to improving myself and I am getting better daily. I am not held back by regret or mistakes from the past. I am moving forward daily. Absolutely nothing is impossible for me.”~~Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability
We all will grow through continuous learning, in wisdom, in maturity and in humility together! Growth is imminent. Change is unavoidable. May God through the Holy Spirit helps guide our minds and hearts toward His way. Merry Christmas to all! And God bless!