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Let's Grow

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever 2 Peter 3:18.

Every day of our life, we are building a monument. By our actions we are erecting lasting evidence that will remind people exactly what we believed and whether or not we considered used our time to do something notable.

We build lasting memories in the way we do our job, treat our neighbors and friends, and show respect to others. The way we keep our promises and care for our body and possessions are all building blocks in the testament that will remain when we are long gone.

Every mundane moment we are alive, whether we realize it or not, we are building a reputation for excellence or mediocrity. How well we build is up to us; the choices we make and how well we make them will either verify or condemn the words of our testimony, and will determine the strength of what we leave behind.

In our life, we are in one of three places. We are either, growing, declining or standing still.

When life stands still, we feel trapped and frustrated. What was is, and what will be is what has always been. We expect what we’ve always expected. If we do the same thing over and over, nothing different will happen. When we fall into this trap, life is long, boring and filled with regrets.

A declining life occurs when we believe and act on our own assumptions. We assume we will have time to get serious with God, therefore we procrastinate. We assume our kids will understand why we don’t have time to come to any of their games; after all, we are working to provide a better life for them.

When we entertain frequent powerful thoughts of giving up, that’s a sign of decline. When we say within ourselves, "No one appreciates me so I’m going to stop trying and be like everyone else", that’s a sign of decline.

I want a life of growth. The scripture says to "grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ". It points out for us a clear, progressive and mature pursuit for our life; a goal to become more and more like Jesus. Our part is to discipline ourselves, and to not allow anything to distract us from reaching our goal. God has His part and we have our part. We cannot do God’s part and God will not do our part. The choice for deeper commitment and greater sacrifice starts with us. We may not be able to control circumstances, but how we live our life is up to us.

Peter was trying to encourage his brethren to not allow the situations around them to cause a loss of focus. I am not seeking status, I am seeking growth. I have no desire to control anybody, and I’m not trying to prove how important I am. God already did that for me. I want to grow in who I am where I am with what I have for as long as I can. I love who I am and what I am doing, therefore I will be who I am and do what I am doing in the best way I can for as long as I can.

It matters very much to God how we do things. It matters to Him how well I perform my job. How well I perform as a husband, father and preacher is of primary importance to God because it shows the exact depth of my faith. If I believe in the Word of God, then that is what I live by. My lifestyle should reflect that. The fruit of the Spirit will be experienced by others through my character. Fruit is the proof of whether or not Christ is real in my life. "Walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" Colossians 3:10.

People may not be able to say that I am a really great preacher or a great musician. But they are able to say that I lived the life, spoke the truth, and maintained integrity as a standard in my personal, professional and spiritual life. "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection…," Hebrews 6:1.

Daniel was a prisoner in a foreign land. He was taken to Babylon as a youth. He had a good excuse to feel sorry for himself, but he didn’t. He made a choice to make the best of the situation he was in. He maintained his integrity no matter how much resistance he faced. I’m like Daniel, I’m saved. That’s all to it. I can’t bow and can’t burn.

Our ministry only has a few folks and our ministry house is too small to even have a big youth event. But we are growing. We are doing our best with what we have. We are not waiting on anything. If we send out newsletters, then we are going to send them out. If we are going to have a website, then we are going to have it up, working, and complete with relevant information and resources to help the masses. "Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord" Colossians 3:23.

It doesn’t matter what you do or what you have but how faithful you are in what you do. Martin Luther King once said that if you are a street sweeper, then sweep like Michelangelo painted.

I love what I’m doing on my job, so I do it well. But if I study more to learn more, I can improve and do an even better job. By studying more and increasing my knowledge, I gain a greater capacity to solve a problem. I exhibit greater boldness with less hesitation. I procrastinate less. It is the same with God; He wants us hot, not lukewarm.

I want to do something great and special, but the big things that we are doing now are the result of small things we are doing in a big way. Recently we have had the opportunity to take supplies and resources into shelters to give the youth and abused women and kids. It was a door that God opened for us that wasn’t there in the past. But it’s there now because we showed God that we can be trusted to follow through with what He gives us to do.

Jesus said that if someone forces us to go one mile, go two see Matthew 5:41. In other words, be willing to do a little extra, go the extra mile, do more and expect more. We can do a lot more than we think we can.

The extra mile, or the "little more" that you willing do is what draws people. Many people jumped on the Jabez wagon and prayed asking God to "Expand my territory", but they aren’t doing their best with the territory that they already have. I work every day with sluggard people that want to do less work for more money. They do the minimal because that’s their mentality; it’s their life.

I want to encourage you to commit your life to the pursuit of growth. Never settle for the status quo way of living, but be bold and adventurous. Do not be afraid to take risks or venture into the unknown. The Spirit filled life is an exciting one filled with opportunity, but we have to be committed to grow in Christ always.

Edmund Brown