Stop Measuring, Start Maturing

Read The Daily:
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18

Post by Alisha MIller

When my son was little he would run to the doorframe, everyday, and stand as tall as he could, back straight, chin up. “Measure me!” he’d say. He was excited to see if he had grown since yesterday. He had one goal- to be as tall as his uncle one day. I’d say ok and make a mark on the doorframe, but the truth was, I knew he hadn’t grown overnight. Growth doesn’t work that way. It takes time, nourishment, and patience. But that didn’t stop him from checking again the next day.

My son’s obsession with being 6’4”, reminds me of how easy it is to approach our faith that way. We want instant results. We want to see how much we’ve grown. We compare ourselves to others—wondering if we pray enough, serve enough, or read our Bible enough. And when we feel like we’re not measuring up, we get discouraged.
But spiritual growth isn’t about checking a daily scoreboard.

Jesus didn’t come to make us rule-followers; He came to make us grace-growers.

Growing in grace means two things:
Getting more secure in how much God loves you. His love isn’t based on how much you “measure up.” He doesn’t love you more when you’re doing great or less when you struggle. His love is constant, unshaken, and never based on performance.
Maturing in how you love others. When we truly understand God’s grace for us, we extend it to others. We forgive because He forgives. We love because He first loved us.

Just like my son’s height, our spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight. But when we stay close to Jesus—learning from Him, trusting Him, and resting in His love—we do grow. And one day, we’ll look back and see just how far we’ve come. As we grow in grace, we also grow in how we treat others. Instead of being quick to judge or hold grudges, we become more patient, more forgiving, and more compassionate. Just as God gives us room to grow, we begin to offer that same grace to the people around us, whether it’s a friend who let us down, a family member who tested our patience, or even a stranger who needed kindness. Maturity in faith isn’t about knowing more—it’s about loving more.

Prayer for the Day

God what is the good news in this devotional or daily reading for me
Remind me of Your unconditional love for me and help me some one person that I can extend that same love to today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: John 11:17-37 & 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” So Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”   John 11:17-37

But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.  1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: John, 1 Thessalonians