Improving With Age Is God’s Plan

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

There have been a few different studies published that have reported of different things that improve with age. One said, Personalities improve with age. Another said, Love improves with age. Another said, Sex improves with age. I can just hear a few of you thinking, They didn’t improve with age in my life.

God’s will for us as Christians is that we improve with age. When God created man, He spoke and said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” Genesis 1:26. That would be the result of a maturing process that happens over time. As we began to learn of Jesus and then receive Him as our Savior, transformation began to happen. The Holy Spirit would guide and teach us how to live according to God’s word and strengthen us from within to accomplish it. It would be a process of failing and succeeding as God developed our character through the process. In addition to the Holy Spirit, He gave us Pastors and other spiritual gifts to aid us in our growth and maturity.

Regarding those people God gave to help us, God said in Ephesians 4:12-13 (NLT2) “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” God has a plan to help us improve with age and this is a part of how that happens!

Everyone stumbles in their walk with God! You will also! But, God gives us the promise of His love and the gift of His acceptance despite our shortcomings. He does this so that we won’t become discouraged in our efforts to progress in our personal change. He then says, “Because we have these promises (His assurance of acceptance and love), dear friends, let us now go on to cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity (perfecting holiness) because we reverently fear (respect and honor.)” God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT Again, these words are saying that maturing is a process of improving over time.

As we do seek God’s Word and make changes so that we can improve in life, 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT tells us, “And the Lord who is the Spirit, make us more and more like Him and we are changed into His glorious image.” This verse says, that if we hang in there and lean on God’s help daily, then in time as we mature, we’ll become like mirrors that reflect His glory. I think most of us get out of bed each day and at some point, stand in front of a mirror to improve upon how we look. Amazingly, some of us go from looking scary to looking beautiful or handsome. That’s what the Word of God does in us. He helps prepare us to be more like Jesus so that to others we reflect Him and His love. Over time, the final result will be what Colossians 3:10 NLT shares with us. “…You have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you.”

Psalm 119:77 (NLT2) says, “Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.” Thank God that He is so merciful and patient in our progress! Our goal is to be like Jesus with the hope that we reflect His image and love more and more over time. Then people will see Him in us, know that we are different, and desire to learn more about why we are the way we are. Being a light and influence for the Lord is the greatest thing we can walk out in life. So, know that God does wants to mature you, and as you yield to Him and the gifts He gives to help us, you will mature and reflect Him over time. And when you fall short, He is there to help you reset and move forward again!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT2) “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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