Jesse's Birthday!

Today is my grandson Jesse’s third birthday. Although Kim and I won’t be with him today, thankfully we got to celebrate with him this past Monday with cupcakes, decorations, and a gift. And in fact, we got to spend the past three weeks with Jesse, his little brother Jack, and his parents as they were on vacation with us in the Adirondack Mountains and spent some time here at our house. Later today we will most likely FaceTime with him.  

Except for a couple of times per year, Kim and I don’t get to spend all that much time with Jesse and his family. Thus, the changes that take place as he grows are often quite striking to us. And now at three years old, those changes are taking place very rapidly. Both his fine and gross motor skills are increasing every day. His vocabulary is expanding at an exponential rate. He is now reasoning (as well as a three year old can reason). He negotiates, makes promises, is gaining a sense of time, and beginning to learn that there are consequences attached to one’s actions. It seems that every day he changes just a little bit more in his mental and physical abilities.  

Kim and I, as well as his parents, are of course glad to see Jesse growing and maturing. And we expect many more changes to take place in the days and years to come. After all, God forbid that at three years old, Jesse should have but the vocabulary and abilities of his 16 month old brother Jack. Or God forbid that a year from now, Jesse would have gained no more vocabulary or become stagnant in his mental and physical abilities. Growth is the normal course of things; it is expected and necessary. 

Unfortunately, any of us can get to a point wherein we stop learning, growing, and maturing. It’s so easy for us to reach a stage in life wherein we become stagnant and end up immature in our understanding of life, knowledge of the world around us, interactions with others, reasoning abilities, etc.  This can be especially so when it comes to spiritual things and one’s life as a follower of Jesus. It’s easy for us to become overly satisfied with where we are and thus stop growing and maturing. The end result is a follower of Jesus who is immature in their faith and in their walk with God. 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth regarding this problem: “I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (! Corinthians 3:1-2 – NIV) He goes on to talk about the way these believers were yet filled with jealousy and quarreling—i.e., they were yet immature. Elsewhere the Bible speaks about us becoming “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4) 

Each of us needs to ask ourselves, am I more mature today in my faith and walk with God than I was a year ago? Am I growing in my faith and living out that faith better than I once did? 

Have a great day! And, Happy Birthday Jesse! 

- Pastor Tim Harris (Grandpa Harris…aka Papou!)