A LIFE OF INCREASE

April 26, 2024

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people. Luke 2:52

This verse describes the progress and increase in Jesus’ life as a young person. We are at our best, and life is most hopeful when we focus on becoming like Jesus and asking what He would do. Instead of getting stale or stuck, we can keep progressing.

1. INCREASE IN WISDOM.  The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). We need wisdom specific to each situation. God has wisdom for every child you are raising, for your career, your marriage, and your relationships – you can ask God and He will help you increase in wisdom!  
 
2. INCREASE IN STATURE. The margin of my Bible refers to stature as “age.” In Luke 2:52, Jesus was still physically a teenager and had more growing to do. We can keep growing, too. Our lives are to be progressive. A minister I knew recently passed away, but he lived and died with a hunger for advancement, growth, and development, and that’s what we can settle in on today as we study and think about this: how can I increase as Jesus kept increasing?
 
3. INCREASE IN FAVOR. “For You bless the righteous person, Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). God loves us so much. The Book of Acts tells of how the early church was “day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47). In your world, you can believe God for favor with your neighbors, favor with your coworkers and colleagues and management, and favor with your customers. As we spend time with Jesus and continue to become like Him, we can expect to increase!

PRAY THIS PRAYER:
I pray for blessing, strength, hope, and courage today. I come against depression and anxiety, and I pray for a renewal in my vision. Help me, God, to be inspired and motivated to follow You and do Your will. Surround me with favor, Lord, and help me to walk in more favor and less rejection and insecurity. Help me conform to the image of Jesus and keep increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people. (Psalm 5:12; Romans 8:29; Luke 2:52)

Press on!
Pastor Jeff Perry

in·crease, verb
To become greater in some respect (as in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth): grow, advance. 

^{Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.  “Increase, V. (1).” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam CO., 1971, p. 1145.}