When I get in a silly mood it usually ends with Bev being irritated. After enduring an extended session of dumb statements and general foolishness, her face gets tense and she says, “Just grow up!” Of course, then I act like I am really offended by her demand. “What’d ah do?” I ask with eyes wide with fake innocence in my best Bill Clintonesque voice. Maturity is an important choice! Being silly is just a distraction. Really being ‘grown up’ involves wisdom to know the difference between what I need and what I want, having the ability to discern the motives of my heart and say yes to the truth, and being faithful to my responsibilities even when I just don’t feel like it.
The grace of God brings us His righteousness, puts us on the right path, and makes it possible for us to please Him. Developing the mature holy character of a saint requires effort on our part. Note the interplay of God’s grace and our efforts in this passage from the Scripture.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:3-10, NIV)
God’s power is actively leading us towards transformation. He has broken the grip that the sinful nature held over us. He has opened our eyes to the truth about right and wrong. These are gifts of grace we could not earn, that are ours to receive. Then He says, “Grow up!”
Make the choice that leads to good works.
Develop your mind so you can see what’s really going on around you.
Make hard choices by being ‘in charge’ of yourself.
Hang in there when the going gets rough.
Be kind even to the idiots in the world around you.
Live in love. And… keep growing deeper in these things. "The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:8, NLT) A child loves to play, is easily distracted, and demands constant supervision. A mature person knows how to get to work, stays focused, and is productive.
Disciple, has the grace of God led you to become a productive mature person who makes a noticeable difference in the world for the Kingdom of God? (Go back and re-read that question, please.) Or, are you one of those Believers who is taking advantage of ‘cheap grace,’ comforting yourself in your immaturity by focusing only on the love of God and ignoring the inevitability of accountability to Him? Few things bring more disgrace on the Lord Jesus Christ than immature, silly, stupidly living Believers who refuse to deal with their sins. They are an ongoing contradiction whose lives give an excuse for many to reject the call of the Spirit. What a tragedy!
As you focus on the love of God given to you in Christ Jesus, take His grace and grow up. Make the daily discipleship choices that allow the beauty of His holiness to shine, with ever increasing glory, from your life. Come on now, grow up, for God’s sake!
_____________________
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day.
Still praying as I'm onward bound.
"Lord plant my feet on higher ground!"
I want to live above the world
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled.
For faith has caught the joyful sound
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright.
But still I'll pray 'til heaven I've found
"Lord lead me on to higher ground!"
Lord lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven's tableland.
A higher plain than I have found
Lord plant my feet on higher ground!
Higher Ground
© Public Domain
Charles Hutchison Gabriel
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