November 4, 2004

THE MODEL YOUTH

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52, NIV).

Luke paints a fascinating portrait of Jesus in His youth and young manhood. It's a portrait of the harmonious development of all His faculties and attributes in a healthy, integrated whole. Jesus provided a perfect model for youth in every era and culture.

Christ's symmetrical development is succinctly expressed in the words, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." This embodies His physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual development. Jesus was not born with a supernatural endowment of wisdom and knowledge; He grew progressively in wisdom. "Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did."--The Desire of Ages, p. 70. Physically, Jesus grew through useful exercise and temperate adherence to the laws of health.

Jesus grew morally and spiritually strong through meditation and prayer and by diligent study of the Scriptures. He was a living example of what it means to grow into perfection. In personality, Jesus was known for a singular loveliness of disposition, a patience that nothing could disturb, the grace of unselfish courtesy, cheerfulness and tact, sympathy and tenderness, and a youthful modesty and grace (see The Desire of Ages, pp. 68, 69, 73, 74, 80, k7, 254). The perfect character development of Jesus from infancy to manhood is the most amazing fact of His entire life. Of this model youth it was said, "At each stage of His development He was perfect, with the simple, natural grace of a sinless life."--Christ's Object Lessons, p. 83.

My Prayer Today: Lord, thank you for the portrait of Christ, the model youth. May his beauty be seen in me. Amen.