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Growing Unawares - Part 2

by Jerry Ousley  
9/28/2012 / Christian Living


It's humorous sometimes to watch a young teenager who has hit a growth spurt. He or she is unaware that they have grown and they get downright clumsy. Sometimes that happens to those of us who have gained weight as well. We've grown out instead of up.

I remember my last day in the U.S. Army. I was to be awarded the Army Commendation Medal for my service and was ask to wear my dress greens that day. All my peers were there along with the Army Chaplains I had worked with. I had managed to get into my dress greens but just barely. I hadn't realized I had gained so much weight since joining the Army three years before. Had I been re-upping I would have been required to purchase new dress greens but they let me slide since this was my last day.

There I stood, at attention while the officer pinned the medal on me. I tried not to breath real heavy because, well, it would have been just a little embarrassing getting a medal and going to the brig the same day for putting out the officer's eye if one of those brass buttons popped off my dress jacket. They were that tight. I wouldn't even attempt to sit down after the ceremony because I didn't want to have to walk back to the barracks in my dress greens with my scivies showing.

The fact was that I had gained weight and didn't realize just how much until I crammed myself into that dress green uniform. Sometimes Christians grow without noticing it too. Many fall into this category. They read their Bibles, and spend time in prayer. They are conscious of their walk with God, but they can't discern that any growth is taking place. When they do or say something un-Christ-like, they get down on themselves. They may ask themselves from time to time: "I've been a Christian for years. Why don't I ever learn?" The Thessalonians may have been just like us. When Paul said what he did about them, they may have said to themselves: "Me, growing exceedingly? Paul must be kidding. Doesn't he know I'm still far from what I ought to be? On most days, I struggle badly. He may see growth in me, but I certainly don't."

Hosea 14:5-6 talks about the growth of a lily. Sit all day by a lily and you most likely won't be able to tell if any growth has taken place. Psalm 1:3 speaks of the growth of a tree. Camp for a month under a tree and you won't see much sign of growth. But that doesn't mean for one second that they are not growing. We just can't see it. Walk away from the lily for two or three days and when you return you'll see that it has grown. Give that tree a year and you'll notice a difference in its size. They are growing but at such a pace that we can't detect it without the time factor.

It's the same with many Christians. As we pray, study the word of God and live our lives for the Lord we are growing. As we experience problems and sorrow we walk away from those things with experience in the Lord.

Have you ever wondered why it is sometimes difficult for a fresh college graduate to get a job? How frustrating so many of these young people become because they have finished their training but potential employers insist on experience in addition to a degree. Why is that? I know it's tough but it's because they know that college doesn't prepare us for everything. You learn the facts and the right way to do things. You gain the knowledge needed to accomplish the job but still it doesn't seem to be enough. That's because in the real world all the knowledge and the things we've learned, though they are correct, don't always apply. When we begin working with people things change. The people factor is the one thing college cannot prepare us for. That only comes with experience.

In our Christian lives, we grow from study but we also grow from experience. That kind of growth is invaluable. Those lessons learned will never be forgotten. So live your life for Christ. Spend your days seeking Him. You'll be amazed at how much you grow without even realizing it.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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