Today’s Reading: Luke 2:36-52
Key Verse: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52
A balanced life is a process of perpetual learning intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually as modelled by Jesus in our text for today.
JESUS GREW IN WISDOM: This is the Intellectual Development. Jesus as you can see, exemplify the epitome of intelligence when He confronted the teachers, masters of the Law of His day. As you read the Gospel, notice how knowledgeable Jesus was over the scriptures. How about you? Howard Hendricks said that if we stop reading, we stop learning, and when we stop learning we stop preaching or witnessing. Charles Spurgeon was also quoted as saying,”The man who never reads will never be read; He who never quotes will never be quoted; he who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brain of his own. Brethren, what is true of Ministers is true of all our people. YOU NEED TO READ!”
JESUS GREW IN STATURE: This is the Physical Development. When we say of Stature, it speaks of our lifestyle, eating habits, nutrition and recreation. This aspect of our person influences our self-image and also the way other people see us. Is there anything in your life today over which in obedience to Christ, you do not have any control? Dick Iverson recommends three things on how to care for our Physical condition; 1) Watch what you eat, 2) Do exercise 3) Don’t stress.
JESUS GREW IN FAVOUR WITH MEN: This is the Social Dimension. This means he didn’t go around living a life of a bad person, gossiping about everyone else, but He was a good friend, someone who could be trusted.
JESUS GREW IN FAVOUR WITH GOD: This is the Spiritual Development. This last aspect of our personality should be the first to be given much attention as exhorted by our Lord. It should not be compartmentalized but integrated with every dimension of our life. We can not fully develop in other areas–intellectually, physically and socially if we are not making any progress in our spiritual relationship with God. We can’t grow in any one of these areas without also having an effect on all other areas. The Spiritual growth should be the first, the rest would follow and fall wonderfully in their proper places.