Time to Grow

There is something special about the changing of the seasons. Each season seems to have its own “feel;” sights, smells, sounds, attitudes. Spring is a time of newness, freshness; blooming flowers and tender, green leaves. Summer means vacations, picnics and a more relaxed pace. Autumn brings colorful leaves and cooler air. In Winter, perhaps we look forward to Christmas and falling snow.

For Christians, part of our yearly worship routine is to observe a cycle of changing seasons. These seasons are not linked to temperatures and weather, but rather we dedicate time to dwell upon the special things God has done in our world and how our lives are transformed by them. It serves as a something of a “devotional guide” that leads us to reflect on various facets of leading faithful Christian lives.

At this time of the year we find ourselves in a season when our primary emphasis is growth. It is not unlike the way that Summer brings maturity and strengthening to the new life of Spring. We’ve celebrated Jesus’ resurrection at Easter, and we’ve acknowledged his commissioning us to “make disciples” in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Now is our time to grow and mature into that role our God and our faith have given us. Because Jesus has lived, has died, and lives again; because Jesus has said, ‘Now it is your turn to live as I have shown and taught you,’ this is our “season” to grow in lives transformed by God. Because Jesus has forgiven us, we seek ways to enact forgiveness in our work, family, community, church. Because Jesus worked for healing the sick, including the disenfranchised, and feeding the hungry, we strive to do ministries that do the same. Because Jesus proclaimed the coming Kingdom of God and called his followers to do likewise, we work to make our lives testify to that good news.

Christians ought never stop growing in their faith. We are always capable of new understanding. We are always presented with new opportunities for ministry. And God is constantly speaking to us new words of hope, challenge and encouragement. Our lives as followers of Jesus are not static, stationary or stagnant. We grow and move; we are changed and changing because of what God has done in our world.