“Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10 ESV
The crowd cheered loudly as ten tiny racers were positioned at the starting line. The race began. Each little one began crawling towards their momma. The mommas knelt on the floor half a court away, with arms outstretched, each calling out her baby’s name along with words of encouragement. The Baby Crawl Race was a WNBA game halftime event held in Las Vegas.
The babies all moved quickly, each eager to reach their mothers, but one little girl quickly took the lead. Her focus was obvious. She wanted to get to her momma! Suddenly, she stopped. Awkwardly trying to stand up, she quickly regained her balance, then stood straight. She took one tentative step, then another. The crowd went wild. The tiny toddler bravely continued taking one wobbly step after another and walked straight into her Momma’s waiting arms.
Baby Racer #8 had taken her very first steps in front of thousands of cheering basketball fans. What a special treat and delight for everyone in the arena.
First steps are special. They are memorable. Parents try their best to catch those precious once-in-a-lifetime moments on video. The parents are beyond pleased at their baby’s development and growth – they’re ecstatic!
The expectation, of course, is that the toddler will continue to develop. The steps will grow steadier, faster, and stronger. Soon, the little one will be able to run, hop, skip, and jump. And when growth and development don’t happen as they should, loving parents become rightly worried and seek expert medical help for their child.
It is much the same for the new believer. There’s a lot of uncertainty and tottering in the first steps taken after becoming a Christian. Each awkward step taken is a moment for joy and celebration. Growth is happening. God is pleased with His child.
As the new believer grows in faith and surrenders to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, each step becomes stronger, more confident, and steadfast. The pace picks up, and the believer begins to earnestly run the race that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, and that the author of Hebrews speaks about in Hebrews 12:1. This growth is good. It’s healthy. And, it is pleasing to the Father.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 ESV
Peter implies in this verse that this growth is to continue. There is to be ongoing development in your spiritual growth and knowledge of God. Growth is not temporary or limited. There is no time in this life on earth that you can say, “I’m done. Finished. There’s nothing more to learn. I know God completely. I am all that I can be. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Dear Friend, there is no earthly endpoint for growing in the grace and knowledge of God. That’s not what Scripture says at all. It says, “Keep on growing.”
So, as pleased as God may be with your early, tottering steps, He expects more. He wants more from you and for you. God wants continued growth.
God wants you physically, spiritually, and mentally fit for the race, strong and able to endure the challenges along the way. God wants you to be quick and nimble, able to avoid each pothole and every dart and arrow that Satan throws, hoping to bring you down.
In “Mere Christianity,” C. S. Lewis quotes George MacDonald, “Every father is pleased at the baby’s first attempt to walk: no father would be satisfied with anything less than a firm, free, manly walk in a grown-up son. In the same way…‘God is easy to please, but hard to satisfy.’”
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 ESV
Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed if you feel yourself slowing down or fear you are lagging in your spiritual growth. For hope and encouragement, read these Holy Spirit-breathed words written by the Apostle Peter.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:2-4
God has given us access to everything we need to grow—everything we need to flourish—everything we need to please Him.
Peter goes on to say, “Here is what you need to continue to grow, and God’s Holy Spirit will be your helper and guide as you increase in these areas: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8 ESV
As you read these words, remember that it was Peter who abandoned Jesus in His darkest hours and, then, denied Him three times. Peter faced a time when he could have said, “I’m done. It’s over. I failed Jesus in His time of need. Now He’s gone. I learned all that I could from Jesus—there’s nothing more to learn. I’ve grown all that I can. I’m going back to my fishing boat. That’s where I belong.”
Instead, Jesus graciously reached out in forgiveness and restored the relationship. He told Peter that there was more for him to learn, more growth that needed to happen, and there was much more for Peter to do.
Our God is easy to please when we walk with Him in obedience and faith.
But God is not easy to satisfy.
God has and wants so much more for us—
more growth, more joy, more peace,
more than we could ever imagine.
He will not be satisfied until we surrender fully.
When we obediently pursue Him without putting limits
or boundaries on our hearts, minds, or hands,
He will be pleased.
And we will be moving towards the heavenly day when
God Almighty says,
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Luke 19:17)
Pleased and Satisfied.