Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s think about growing up.

Today’s scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:11‭-‬13 (ERV), says…
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. It is the same with us. Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me. So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Consider…
1 Corinthians 13:12 was one of my Mom’s favorite scriptures. I recall her reciting it with great enthusiasm. I can only imagine her elation when she went to sleep on this side of glory and awakened to see Jesus in His full glory.

Reflecting on my mom’s life again, just made me realize the reason she knew such peace was because daily she lived Philippians 4:4-‬9 (NLT)…
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Please don’t misunderstand, my mother would often admit to me that ‘Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair’, as Langston Hughes wrote. But then she would run right back to scripture, reciting 2 Corinthians 4:16‭-‬18 (NLT), which testifies…
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Right after she finished quoting God’s word, I also remember her singing in her Soprano voice…

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

1 John 3:2 (ERV) encourages…
Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him just as he is.

That verse puts the needle on the MercyMe record to…

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Yeah

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine

For the longest I tried to understand why the Apostle Paul randomly threw in, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways”, into the love chapter. This morning, the Holy Spirit showed me through the reflection of my Mom’s heart.

You see, children live life craving what they see right in front of them. But as we grow older, we begin to make decisions beyond what we see. In fact, we make decisions based on what’s to come.

For example, you happily go to bed early when you have to work in the morning. Tell me how many children enthusiastically goes to bed on their own because they have school in the morning?

Another example is, as we get older our diets change because our bodies work differently. Knowing certain foods don’t agree with us, usually makes us exercise wisdom and stay away, regardless how good that treat looks and taste. However most children don’t think twice about the tummy ache when eating the ice cream or the cavities when gorging on the candy.

I believe what Paul means when he says that he put away childish things, is that he stopped focusing on the here and now, and shifted his focus to the when and then.

…Here and now, ‘life ain’t no crystal stair’
…When I see Jesus, then I will walk on streets of gold

…Here and now, heartbreak and sadness surround me
…When I see Jesus, then He will wipe every tear from my eyes

…Here and now, people, including myself, let me down
… When Christ comes again, then we will be like Him

…Here and now, weeping endures for a night
…When morning comes, then God’s new mercies I will see.

…Here and now, troubles seem to last always
…When Christ returns, then we’ll know the glory that far outweighs them

Colossians 3:2 (ERV) advises us to…
Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth.

That sage advice is good because it helps us live with hope rather than just trying to cope.

Today’s scripture ends with a couple of interesting thoughts.

First, the idea of knowing God as He has known us is amazing. Especially when the Psalmist testifies…
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! – Psalms 139:13‭-‬18 NLT

Imagine knowing God like that! 🤯

The second and final thought from today’s scripture, which I find interesting is that Paul closes out this whole grown up and knowing God theme with…
So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

This too seemed random to me, until the Holy Spirit reminded me that God is love.

You see, our seeing God for who He really is, means we’re looking in the face of love. The Holy Spirit helped me understand…
… it’s my faith
… it’s my hope

BUT IT’S GOD’S LOVE!

God’s love is greater than anything I am, can do or offer Him!

Paul is saying, when I stop behaving like a child, I will know and love like God! 1 John 4:16 (NLT) explains it this way…
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Today, when you’re tempted to respond to the here and now, I encourage you to grow up and focus on the when and then with Jesus. When you do, you’ll know and show love in response to everything and everyone!

Today’s song is…
More Like Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)