Maturing

A few days ago, we celebrated my son, Eli’s tenth birthday.  We have a tradition in our family where the birthday boy or girl gets to chose where we go for dinner.  Crystal and I were ready for a good meal at a “sit down” restaurant.  What did he choose?  Arby’s.  I have nothing against the Arby’s restaurants.  I have many fond childhood memories with my family while drizzling Arby sauce on my sandwich.  This just isn’t what I think of today as a celebration restaurant.

This made me think of when I was a teenager.  I was talking with some people from out of town.  They asked where a good steak house was in Joplin.  I remember feeling dumb because I didn’t know where to send them.  In my family, it was a rare occasion for us to get steak.  When we did, it was grilled up at home.  I don’t recall going out to eat steak.  I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.  Steak-and-Shake.  (I hope the couple found the actual steak house that was located next to Steak-and-Shake.)

As we grow, our tastes change.  Whether it’s where we celebrate birthdays, or what restaurants we recommend to someone from out of town.  We tend to mature and find finer and more meaningful things to fill our lives.

Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor. 13:11) When I was young, I was fine with fast food and cheap toys.  Now, I prefer a nice meal with family and friends either at home or in a nice restaurant.  I have matured to a place where I prefer meaningful over cheap and quick.

The same thing applies in my faith.  When I was younger, I gravitated to emotional experiences.  If I didn’t feel goosebumps or if I didn’t cry, it wasn’t a good service.  Now, I sit down with friends and discuss the Word of God for hours on end.  We walk away full.  We have topics to search out and consider throughout the week.  We have a fellowship which I look forward to all week.  There have been times where tears were shed.  Many more times when there was great laughter.

There has been a dramatic growth in my life since coming to the realization of God’s Grace.  My Pastor introduced me to the Truth of God’s Grace.  Since moving back to Joplin, my friends and I continue to discuss the Grace of God and how to apply it to our lives.  Grace is not a cheap fast food meal.  Grace is finer than any five star celebrity chef’s restaurant where you have to know someone to get a reservation.  I encourage you to pull up a seat.  Take a deep dive into God’s Grace and savor the goodness that is beyond compare.