Growing Up

Pekon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

God expects growth.  All of creation is geared towards growth and fruitfulness.  Every year all of creation grows … grass, trees, flowers … there is increase.

God expects growth of his children.

What parents rejoice in the birth of their child and think, I will change diapers for the next 60 years, plop the child in front of netflix, and that is the life that I hope for for the child.

No!  No parent thinks that, though that seems to be becoming some kind of new model.

The parent hopes for good health, growth, development, education, maybe take over the family business some day or other expectations.  The parent expects growth.

God expects growth.  We should not just be sitting around “waiting for God.” In actuality, it is more likely that God is waiting for us to fulfill some act of obedience so that God can move on our behalf.  It is far more likely that God is waiting for us than that we are waiting on him.

There is a thought that because “God is God” that he can do anything, which he can, but he also is a God of order.  If we want a vegetable garden, we don’t plant seeds under the couch in the living room expecting corn and tomatoes and other vegetables to grow.  We recognize that as foolish.  And yet there are many instructions in the word of God that mankind defies, expecting good results, expecting God to override God’s own kingdom order in order to cater to man’s rebellion and disobedience.  It’s not going to happen without doing it God’s way.

Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

28 But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.