Growing, Growing, Grown!

While carefully inspecting and counting the tiny little peppers growing from my sole jalapeno pepper plant, I remembered Grandma’s words, I love watching things grow. She planted the strangest things, unlike regular vegetable gardens. Grandma grew cotton and tobacco and just about anything! I asked her once, why do you plant all of this? She just said she liked to watch things grow.

As I scrutinized my little patio garden squatted down on my knees, viewing the plants up close, I realized, I’m just like my grandma. I, too, love watching things grow. It is so interesting to see the little flower first, then the initial tiny sprout of a beginning of the fruit.

Don’t you know God loves to watch us grow too? He carefully watches the flowering young Christian grow and develop into mature, steadfast warriors in the army of the Lord.

You see natural things can always be compared to spiritual things. When a woman becomes pregnant, she gives birth to a baby -- not a fully developed person. That baby must grow and develop into man or woman. Likewise, new Christians come into being as little babes also.

The bible says Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Have you tasted that the Lord is gracious? Then, my friend, it’s time to grow. Our Heavenly Father loves watching us grow up. He doesn’t want to baby-sit throughout all eternity. He wants His kids fully developed in every aspect. See 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The very best way to grow up in Christ is to renew our thinking. The bible calls this renewing our minds. (Romans 12:2) Our thinking is where 99 percent of our problems come from. When we renew our thinking and get our thinking in line with God’s thinking, we mature and develop into solid, steadfast, immovable Christians! The bible speaks much of being perfect and of perfection through the scriptures. What this literally translates to is maturity. It is defined: full grown, adult, of full age, mature. If we didn’t have some growing up to do, it would not be mentioned in the bible, would it? This is what Jesus meant when He said Be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:48) He said, Be mature. Don’t be little babies forever. Grow up.

As we renew our minds through spending time in the scriptures, we become strong in our faith and eventually, as we develop and become mature, the circumstances around us will not have any long term effect on us. We will still become discouraged from time to time. Don’t’ get me wrong. But, we will be better able to resist that discouragement and not camp out there for weeks or months. God has provided everything we need on this earth to be successful. He knows exactly what He is doing. He’s given us His Word to apply to our lives and to live by. Choose you this day who you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Study and spend time in the Word. Renew your mind daily to God’s way. His way will always be the best way. God bless you this week.