Personal Growth - Luke 2:52Sample

Jesus grew in stature. We all know that actions have consequences and sometimes the greatest accomplishments are made by one small decision at a time. There is an old saying “to eat an elephant, you must do so one bite at a time”. Or how about running a marathon? It just takes one step…then another…and another. These examples reflect the idea that decisions compound and overtime result in something amazing. Proverbs 2:11 (NLT) says, “Wise choices will watch over you and understanding will keep you safe.” Our theme verse, Luke 2:52, tells us that Jesus grew in stature. The word stature has a literal physical meaning – Jesus grew up! But it also refers to someone’s reputation or character. The famous UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden said, “The true test of a person’s character is what they do when no one is watching.” How is character developed? One choice at a time. So, if our stature or our character is “what we do” we must recognize how incredibly important our daily decisions are. Joshua 24:15 also speaks to the importance of decisions. Following the conquering and settling of the promised land, Israel’s leader urged the people to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Much of the Old Testament speaks to the consequences of the people’s response to either follow or not follow the Lord - revealing the need for a Savior who alone could follow God perfectly. Often our goals can seem insurmountable, but it all starts with one bite, one step, one decision. Consider today how you can begin making decisions that will compound and urge you towards growth in the way of Jesus.