Push me LORD!

 

Do you remember?

"I don't wanna grow up. I'm a Toys R Us kid?"

I remember this commercial from the 80's. (I know. I am old!) I have often heard adults say they long for the days when they could just play with friends and have no care in the world. Yes, I was fond of my childhood and I really did not have a care in the world. I had no worries about anything except what game was on the agenda for the day or where would I ride my bike. 

There are a lot of graduation celebrations going on around the country. Young men and women celebrating the end of one season of life and moving the the next. In their innocence, they have not experienced "adulting." I pray the transition will be smooth and they will grow to love the freedoms and that they will even grow to love the challenges they will face. 

I was reading a couple of verses in Luke that had me pondering JESUS going through that same transition;

"And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." (Luke 2:39-40, NLT)

I have always been curious about how Jesus was a little boy, a teen, and a young adult. We don't have much to go on except the time his parents left him behind and he was in the TEMPLE. I can imagine Jesus was a great kid. I bet he was a good friend, liked to have fun, and had a special relationship with the Lord in Heaven. Really, there is no need to know a lot about those years even though the curiosity makes my mind wander. The lesson of verse 40 tells us that JESUS GREW UP like the rest of us. He had physical growth, growth in knowledge and wisdom, and he had growth spiritually. Those three areas of growth are an important part of life for each of us, even adults

I am not that great at taking care of my physical needs. I spend most of my time on wisdom and spiritual growth. But, the message here is to live this great balance between all three aspects of life. We need to pay attention to all three areas of personal growth and when we see a deficit in any one area, we need to focus energy in that area. What am I doing to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually? PUSH ME LORD, I WANT TO BE BETTER!

Heavenly Father, we are often just like the kids in the commercial. We don't want to grow up. We want to stay in the innocent care free days of our youth. Adulting can be hard. Help me to grow up in you. Help me to grow physically so I can complete all missions you give me. Help me to grow in knowledge and wisdom so I can share that with others, and help me grow in my love for you, being able to just sit quietly in your presence. Balancing all areas of life honor you and I ask your forgiveness when I do not follow Jesus in growing up! Help me to continue my growth until we meet in paradise! Amen!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!