05/15/2020
When we first come to know God through Jesus Christ we are like infants, and are yet unprepared to walk fully as grown men and women of faith in our Father’s house. Likewise, Jesus endured His childhood as He grew in body and mind from an infant into manhood. Yet, as a baby, a toddler, a child, and through all of the other phases of growing into adulthood, our father‘s love is complete, and perfect through them all.
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5 ESV
I remember the birth of each of my children, and how I held them close. I have loved them from the moment of their first breath, and that love has remained ever since; even to this day when I see that their time as adults has become full. As they grew, and I did my best to teach them, I might have been disappointed from time to time in their progress, but my love remained a firm foundation underpinning all else. God loves us in much the same way; we do things that displease or disappoint Him, and yet He always loves us as we grow in faith, and spirit; becoming more like Him, and in His image...
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”
Luke 2:52 ESV
As we grow, we begin to favor our father or mother more, and grow to be strong and wise as they are, but as we do, their love for us sees us through all of those years as we learn the lessons that bring us to the point where we can walk with them and talk with them as adults. In our spiritual maturity, and faith, we grow as Jesus grew, and increase as John the Baptist said Jesus increased...
“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.””
John 3:29-30 ESV
The prophet Samuel was just a man, but even as a man and a prophet he had to grow-up In stature and faith also. When we read of his maturing, there is a particular verse that describes him, and it is very similar to what we just read about Jesus. Samuel grew, Jesus grew, and this growing is true concerning us too...
“Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.”
1 Samuel 2:26 ESV
So it is regarding our faith... we are born again into it, and through the Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, we begin to grow to favor them... not in a physical sense, but spiritually...
“since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”
1 Peter 1:23 ESV
In this way we must look to our Heavenly Father, and concentrate on our lessons in His Word. We need to seek Him, and strive to be as He is; looking to Jesus as our example, and to the Holy Spirit for understanding. When we first believe we are like babies, and from that moment on we begin to grow spiritually.
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 ESV
Don’t do anything that would hinder your growth, don’t be ashamed of being an infant, or child, and don’t ever become complacent in who you are in your faith. You might look at yourself and compare what you see to where you started your journey of faith, and say “I have arrived!”, but when we compare ourselves to our Heavenly Father we always have a ways yet to go; our pilgrimage, and spiritual journey is just beginning... it is never ending.
“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
Mark 10:13-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling me, and for my rebirth in you. Thank you Lord for loving me while I was yet a sinner, and seeing not who I was, but who I would one day grow to become. Open my eyes, and my heart to you, and teach me to be more like you with every passing moment. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, Abba, and Father, who loves me and leads me into a maturity of faith and belief. Praised be your name for sending your Son Jesus, my joint heir in you, to redeem me, and place me as an infant in your arms. Mighty are you who protects me, and provides for my every need as I grow strong in you. Worthy are you of my love and adoration. Worthy are you of my longing to be as you are... holy, and perfect. Hear my voice in prayer Father, and teach me to pray in your will always. Hear my soul‘s longing in joy, and lament, as I reach up to you. Give me a voice through your Holy Spirit when I am at a loss for words. Pour your mercy and grace over me Father when I stumble, and lift me up on eagle’s wings when I rise to join you upon your mountain. Make my path straight, bless me throughout my travels, and guide my steps towards righteousness, and salvation. Make me perfect in my longing for the spiritual milk of your Word... now and forevermore.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—”
1 Peter 2:2 ESV
Rich Forbes