The following is a part of our weekly devotional series, which is a companion to the 2013 Foursquare Life Journal. This week’s Bible reading comes from 1 Kings 12-19; 2 Chron. 10-16; Song of Solomon 1-8; Eph. 6; Phil. 1-4; and Col. 1-2.
About 15 years ago, I was a youth pastor sitting in a staff meeting when I heard some life-changing words. “Grow up!” As someone in his early 20s, I wanted to say, “I am!” The truth is, I was far from it. In that season of my life, it took an audible voice from my pastor to confirm what the Lord had already been speaking to me: It was time to go to another level in Him.
In recent days, while reading through Ephesians, I began to hear those words echo in my heart again. Culture says when we reach certain places and certain accolades in our lives, we can say “I’m a grown-up”—things such as getting married, having children or getting that promotion at work. What we need to be reminded of is that these are seasons—not levels of achievement—that the Lord takes us through.
What I read in Ephesians is that Paul called on husbands, wives, dads, moms and children not to forget what the ultimate goal is—that we may speak “boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19, NKJV)—and that we haven’t quite arrived yet. I love the wisdom that Paul reminds me of in these short but powerful letters: “I need help. I don’t know as much as I think I do, and I never stop growing in my relationship with Jesus.”
I’ve come to realize that most of my frustration with people or situations occurs when I don’t recognize the “growing up” Jesus is trying to accomplish in me. Paul also reminds me to have the “mind of Christ” in (1 Cor. 2:16). It took me a little bit to digest that one.
It still takes me a moment to pause and really take a look at where my mind is and how I’m processing things. Am I using the “Jesus filter” or the “me” filter to make decisions, judgments and relationships? Having the mind of Christ is a grown-up thing, which means no matter who, what or where I am, that I will see the bigger picture of Christ in each situation and call on Him before I rely on my own understanding. For me this is a daily process, and I need to make it a daily priority so that I can see the people in front of me the way Jesus does.
Ask the Lord. It could be time to do a little bit of “growing up” in this season of your life so that you can fully embrace what the Lord is accomplishing.
By: Eric Mejia, senior pastor of Life Church (Austin Foursquare Church) in Cedar Park, Texas
Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare’s 2013 Life Journal project.
