Growing

Yesterday my first born child celebrated her ninth birthday.

Deborah is very important to me because she’s my first born. At nine, she is no longer a fragile little baby needing to be fed and changed. In considering her development, I see someone who is more advanced than I was at her age, especially intellectualy. She is a girl, she is not a freak of an individual, (she leaves that to her Dad), she has the usual child issues, but she is making tremendous progresss, for which I give God much thanks.

Watching her change as she grows and establishing her own personality, interests and the like, I am reminded that the whole point of following Jesus, is that I am meant to  be growing.

Reading how long Jesus spent with His disciples, and how long Paul would spend in some of the churches he set up, it got me thinking about the environment to grow. Not just the environment, but the purpose of investing time in planting and watering and then leaving the work to God to bring the increase.

There is meant to be increase. There is meant to be change. There is meant to be growth, because in us is the seed of the Word, which by the power of the indwelling Spirit, is to mature until the fullness of Christ is evident in me, and in us.

That growth is meant to be obvious, just as the growth of a child is obvious and just as the growth of the seed to a tree is obvious.

I am excited about the development to come in my first born. I am excited about the decisions she will take and the steps she will make as she grows. I am aware of my responsibility to exemplify what path she is to take. I am equally aware that I will not be forcing her to make any choice. She shall make them and grow as a result.

Likewise I am excited for my own growth in Christ and the growth of brothers and sisters I’m Christ. Growth that is spiritual and natural. Growth not forced, but growth that is evident, that shows the world in which we love who Jesus is and what His Kingdom looks like.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden