Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

This verse, in a very slightly different translation, is actually a better fit to the music in Japanese than the original English, to a chorus that in English is called “The Path of the Just.” It’s always fascinating to me when that happens (and this isn’t the only example) because I’ve done so much song translation. Regardless of that, the content is worthy of meditation. These days not many people are out walking at dawn, and if they are in a vehicle, headlights make it harder to understand as a principle. The thing is, pre-dawn light is definitely dim, and it would be very easy to stumble. As the sun starts to come up, the way gets clearer and clearer, and if you’re walking due East, the light is quickly blinding if you don’t shade your eyes. (Walking other directions, of course, is a different matter on the blinding part.) The point of this verse, however, is that when we first choose to walk in obedience to God, the way might not seem very clear, and stumbling can certainly occur. However – and here’s the important part – it gets better. The way is clearer, and we can walk with more assurance and accuracy, and stumbling becomes less and less frequent. Sanctification is an important Biblical principle, but despite the teaching of some groups, it’s rarely instantaneous. When we repent and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are in that moment counted as righteous, but that is worked into and through our lives on a growing basis. Often a new believer will seem so different from the way they were before commitment that we think the job is done, but that’s a very dangerous mistake. Everyone needs to grow, and that includes the most white-haired saint you can think of! Spiritual growth is an essential, and beautiful, part of spiritual life. We need both to aim for it and be grateful for it, even when we have “growing pains.”

This verse really clicks for me because I am often out walking at dawn, particularly in the winter months when the sun comes up later. I have taken many spectacular pictures that people think are sunsets, but they are dawn shots. I wear a baseball cap and dip my head to shield my eyes from the direct sunlight when I’m headed East, but sunglasses aren’t appropriate because the ground around me isn’t so illuminated. On the return trip, headed West, sunglasses are often appropriate. In the area of spiritual growth, I can look back and see that I have grown indeed in various areas, but I am often painfully aware that I have plenty more room to grow. At this point, delegation is one of those areas. I don’t have to be the center of what’s going on! I need to remember that my job is to equip the saints to do works of ministry, not to do it all myself. (Ephesians 4:11-14) In any case, I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in my Lord, knowing that His “lesson plans” are good, and that He will enable me to pass the test, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me keep it in my awareness, seeking to grow and encouraging others to do so as well, in all gentleness and love, so that we may be the children, the disciples, that You desire and deserve. Thank You. Hallelujah!