Thanks for joining us on this journey of building a consistent habit of reading our Bibles every day. The Bible reading plan we are using this year can be found here: One Year Bible or here on the Bible app. As always, if you miss a day, don’t feel compelled to go back and catch up. Just skip it and start back on today’s date. I am reading the NLT this year, but feel free to use whatever version you prefer. Now here are some thoughts from today’s readings:
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
– Luke 2:52
Luke 2:52 is such a challenging verse yet it’s also liberating. Think about this: even Jesus, the Son of God, had to grow. He didn’t start out knowing everything or how to deal with every person. We sometimes see Jesus’ “perfection” as meaning nothing went wrong for Him. But the Bible doesn’t say that. By perfect, the Bible means He was perfectly sinless. So that means Jesus probably tried things and failed. He may have found out there were some things He just wasn’t good at. He probably got frustrated with Himself at times. He had to grow, which means so do we.
This idea is liberating because if Jesus needed the grace to grow, how much more should give yourself grace (and others, but that’s a different post)? But this thought is also challenging because Jesus took the time to grow. Healthy growth doesn’t happen to us naturally. We have to pursue it and put energy into it, like Jesus did. Are you investing in your own growth? If you’re not sure, as your self this: Would the people closest to you say you’re growing in wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with people? If you’re not sure, ask someone close to you. Tell them to be honest. Also, ask God. He’ll shoot your straight.
All of us can pick one of these areas, wisdom (what we know how to do or apply), stature (physical health), favor with God (closer relationship with God), or favor with people (better relationships with others), and try to work on it. Choose the one you or those close to you think is your weakest. Find someone who you think has it as a strength and ask them how they do it. Grow on purpose. That’s what Jesus did, and I think it’s safe to say He’s a pretty good example.
Which area do you need to choose and what are going to do to improve it?