God could have shown up as a full-grown, wise adult. Christ could have stormed onto the scene with guns blazing, voice raising, and reign taking. But He didn’t. It was God’s plan for Christ to take the same path into the world as you, and He became your Savior through the same path you have to go through to reach maturity. He grew up! Sometimes you may forget He grew up in a difficult time. Maybe it was because of the difficulties He not only grew physically, but He matured spiritually and grew to lean on His Father. How did you grow up? Is God calling you to let go of things that prevent you from growing more? Is He calling you to grow up now, for a reason, for a season? How did Jesus grow up? There has to be a message for you in the life of Christ. God chose the one common experience all share—birth—to bring His Son into this world. That has to mean something. As you wait for the Messiah, Immanuel, God with Us, consider what He did after He arrived.