God expects growth

Matthew 15:15-16

Peter said, “Explain the parable to us?” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.

Wow. Nothing like being called stupid by God. Peter by far is the most interesting disciple. Sometimes he’s the person you admire other times he’s the idiot. Here Jesus called him “dull” But in other translations it literally says stupid. Imagine Jesus saying to you, “Are you stupid?” Nothing like being embarrassed like that. Let’s take things into perspective and take a look at this. The parable they are asking about is the one where Jesus is explaining to the Pharisees what goes in to the the mouth does not make you unclean but what comes out of the mouth makes you unclean. Pretty basic right? And really we weren’t there so I’m thinking…. maybe Jesus did not understand the question. But he is Jesus. So that’s probably not the case. Now being called stupid requires you to either one, already know something that is being said, or two it is common knowledge. So I’m thinking the disciples literally were clueless. But the disciples were expected to get this. They were expected to know the answer or at least have some sort of bearing of the answer. Apparently this irked Jesus enough to call them stupid. Why? Because they should have known better. Really, if you spend like three years with this guy seeing miracle after miracle and learning all he talks about you should be better at this right? You see, Jesus expected them to know, he expected them to gain a better understanding of what is going on because he has just poured so much into them. He expected growth. That is what God wants. He wants us to grow.

So now I look at this and find a funny story, but in reality I should take that statement and take it to heart. God expects growth, especially if we are with Him daily. He wants us to grow more closer to Him and also for us to have a better understanding of each other. God does not like stagnation, he wants and expects us to be maturing daily. Maybe that’s why Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 3:18 of being transformed to His likeness. We are to be transforming and growing and if we are not, then that is not good. Being with God requires growth. That is what he expects form us. Now why don’t we grow? There could be many reasons, either we don’t listen enough, or not pay attention, or fail to take action, whatever the case, if we fail to grow it’s our fault. So an action point I can take away from this: what and where are the areas I fail to grow? In some cases if life gets too hard, I just bail out on it. But growth cannot happen like that. Other times, I’m just lazy, I think “tomorrow”, I got to get that out of my system. What ever the case is I have to get that out and do things to grow.

Lord thank you for the reminder to grow.

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