God’s Beautiful Design for your Spiritual Growth

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him (Lk. 2:40 KJV)

Jesus, as a Man, is God’s perfect picture of what the first Adam was supposed to be, and He is called the last Adam. He was born as a man and had to grow up as every other man does. However, the scripture above gives us four distinctive characteristics of His development which apply to us as children of God. He grew, waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.

The child Jesus grew up. He was born a baby but grew up to become a man- physically, emotionally and spiritually. You were born as a babe in Christ. God wants you to grow up and become mature in the faith.

The second characteristic of His development is that He “waxed strong in spirit”. This is spiritual strength, that is power in essence. It is the ability to do spiritual things. He did not only become strong but was “filled with wisdom”. He was strong but also filled with wisdom. God operates by His power and wisdom. All too often, we find believers now seeking power but lacking wisdom, and the errors that follow in their lives and ministry are a testimony of the absence of divine wisdom. Grow in power, but be filled with wisdom also.

It concludes by saying “the grace dog God was upon Him”. He grew up under an open heaven of divine favor, blessing and as you can imagine the watchful eyes of God the Father Himself. These four characteristics should also be part of your spiritual development. Grow up as a believer. Be strong with all the power of God. Be filled with His wisdom. Finally, flourish under His grace!

MEDITATE

What is the one thing that a child needs to grow? (1 Pet. 2:2)

APPLY THE WORD

These four words “growth, power, wisdom, and grace” should be evident in your life. Do not be stagnant as a believer. Do not increase in the anointing but empty in divine wisdom. Do not try to make it work by yourself but allow grace to carry you. If you do, you will reign on the earth and flourish!