And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

  - Luke 2.52

A fair sage at his death,
and master of a community,
he spoke with an angel;
he studied Greek grammar.

  - Dallán Forgaill, Amra Choluimb Chille, Irish, 6th century[1]

Colum Cille was a truly remarkable man. The son of a king and destined for the throne, he instead chose the life of a monk. He became the first of many Irish missionaries – called peregrini – to wander beyond the shore of their native land, taking the message of the Gospel to new peoples and new lands.

Colum was a man of great learning, great courage, great administrative skill, and great relational gifts. He founded the monastic community on Iona, and drew young men from Ireland and elsewhere to study and serve with Him. His example of godliness, industry, courage, faith, and vision inspired generations of believers. He was, as Dallán Forgaill explained, regarded simultaneously as a sage, pastor, mystic, and scholar.

Becoming a person like Colum, who is able to nurture and influence those the Lord brings into his life, doesn’t just happen. We need to work at this daily. It can be helpful, therefore, if we have an honest understanding of the scope of our lives and the areas where we can work for growth in the Lord.

The outline of Colum’s life, which Dallán provides in this lament at his passing, recalls the growth pattern of our Lord Jesus Christ: wisdom, stature, favor with God, favor with men. Here’s a pattern we can all adopt with benefit. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and if we can bring that fear, coupled with growing love for the Lord, into every area of our lives, we may expect to see continuous growth in becoming more like Jesus.

Such growth begins with taking care of our bodies so that we can be healthy and strong to serve the Lord for many years. This entails not just meeting our physical needs, but disciplining our bodies for seeking the Kingdom and glory of the Lord. Spiritual growth begins within our bodies, in our souls. But unless we discipline our bodies to submit to the time and demands of spiritual growth, we’ll never get beyond square one.

Spiritual growth is from the inside-out, as we come before the Lord in prayer and His Word, to encounter His glory and grow in Him. Day by day we should work hard to grow in favor with the Lord, practicing those disciplines that bring us into His presence and fit us for daily life and service (OK, maybe not Greek grammar).

On this basis, we must nurture the skills of wisdom for every aspect of our lives and work. We’ll only increase in favor with others as we learn to love them with the love of Christ, and as we do our work in such a way as to glorify God in all the details.

This is enough for any of us to concentrate on for the rest of our lives – growing in wisdom, bodily discipline, spiritual growth, and relational and vocational fruitfulness. The key to well-rounded, continuous growth, is to embrace those disciplines that will help us grow in the grace of the Lord, so that we increase in Christ-likeness to refract His presence and glory into every area of our lives – all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities.

If we can achieve consistent growth in all these areas, it may be that God will use us like He did Colum, to bring the light of the Gospel, the transforming power of grace, and loving works of ministry that will reach many people for years to come.

Growth like this doesn’t just happen. We must apply ourselves diligently to the task, daily pressing on to become more like the great saints of the past, but especially, more like Jesus.

Psalm 9.1, 2 (Diademata: “Crown Him with Many Crowns”)
I will give thanks, O Lord, with all my heart to You!
I’ll tell the wonders of Your Word, so many and so true!
With joy to You I cry; Your glory I will raise;
Your matchless Name, O Lord on High, will I forever praise!

Help me, Lord, to grow in all these ways. Show me what I must do to achieve consistent progress in wisdom and stature, and in favor ou and my neighbors.

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T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.