#GrowingUp

Growing up ain't easy. There comes a time when the bottle is replaced by a cup and the pacifier is hidden away. There comes a time when your mother stops setting out your clothes for the day and even putting them on for you to mornings when you stand before the opened closet and decide for yourself what to wear. There comes a time when the tricycle is replaced by a vehicle with four wheels and you have a driver's license in your billfold. There comes a time when you stop being given an allowance to going to work for a pay check.

Each transition may cause some discomfort and at one time stomping your feet and throwing a temper tantrum came naturally, but when you are twenty you had better come up with a better idea.
We learn to start thinking about others and giving rather than being so self centered. We learn to get to bed earlier so we can get to class or work on time. We learn how to say no to ourselves when it comes to spending money and be responsible to pay our bills on time.

Scripture says ' when I became a man, I put away childish things' and tho it may be at different times for each of us, we, sooner or later need to put away childish things and grow up. Scripture also tells us to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus'. Growing in the grace - grace can be taken as the whole activity of God toward man. This covers a lot of territory. Salvation is by grace and forgiveness is by grace and being called is by grace and serving is by grace. We are to grow, to develop the qualities of maturity in all these areas.

We are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and I must repeat this again - this knowledge is found in the Bible. You cannot grow in the knowledge of Jesus by sleeping with the Bible under your pillow and expect osmosis to happen. Reading God's Word is the very best way to grow in this vital knowledge and regular, consistent reading will keep it flowing in your mind.

You will find that as you read and grow that the childish things will be less satisfying and will fall off as the new growth takes over, like the Pin Oak tree. It's leaves do not fall off in the fall, but in the spring when the new leaves begin making their appearance and push them off.

It is time to grow up in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus.