Read Galatians 5:25.
Our celebration of Christmas portrays God as infant. Let’s imagine God as a tiny living creature, not yet fully developed, a dependent, innocent, and immature child. We press into Jesus’ incarnation today, may he show us the way to maturity from a place of weakness.
Jesus came into the world much like Adam and Eve, who were also dependent, innocent, and immature. They were invited to mature in the context of unhindered relationship with God. However, they were quickly tempted by the enemy and their sin blocked them from growing in the unhindered presence of God. Now we all grow up in the context of distorted relationship with God.
Also, remember Jesus “grew up like a young plant.” We don’t have much recorded of this process except for Luke 2:52, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” We can imagine he was dependent on his family and community as he learned and matured in his relationships. Like us, Jesus had to grow into his true identity.
So, how did Jesus, being immature, never sin? In our immaturity, like Adam and Eve, we sin easily. Jesus was an immature child and entered human life not fully developed, yet he grew up in the context of unhindered relationship with God. This only happened because he was connected to God through the Holy Spirit his whole life and he fought to maintain this connection. Jesus demonstrated that we, too, have a fighting chance to live in context of the presence of God, all because Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit. We now fight to live in connection with his Spirit in order to fully mature as Jesus did.
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Praise Jesus today for maturing in the context of the Holy Spirit and ask his Spirit to come quickly to your aide as you fight to live in his presence today.
By Yvonne Biel
