But unlike the rest of us, none of His growth came through overcoming personal sins. No, His spiritual maturity originated from other sources, and in His example we, too, find important and positive ways to move forward.

It's simply this: growth is stimulated from two angles, proactive and reactive. Proactive has to do with actions we initiate; reactive has to do with actions initiated by other people, events or situations.

Jesus grew by both. For example, Luke points out that He was "in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" (v. 46). He proactively chose to put Himself in that environment. It's similar to Josiah's proactive approach as a young king: "He began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge" the idols (II Chronicles 34:3).

Jesus took other proactive steps such as withdrawing from everyone to have special time for prayer and retreating to the wilderness to fast.

On the other hand, He also grew from having to react to many circumstances that were very difficult and often brought on by other people. "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (Hebrews 12:3). He understands that not all suffering is self-inflicted but can be the result of the mistakes, wrong attitudes and sins of other people. Yet He always learned and grew by properly reacting to suffering caused by others (Hebrews 5:8).

Paul found himself in many unfair, difficult circumstances not of his own making. But out of these came some of his greatest growth. "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things," he concluded, "through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).

We share similar reactive growth opportunities as well. They come in both positive and negative situations, such as:

• Trials or blessings.
• Failures or successes.
• Opportunities.
• Changes in life (e.g., marriage, having children, getting fired or transferred, etc.).
• Tough decisions.

Sometimes, though, such conditions require that we become proactive in other ways, such as:

• Making extra time for study, prayer and fasting.
• Studying good examples.
• Seeking wise counsel.
• Serving.
• Meditating and planning.
• Focusing first on the Kingdom of God.

In all of these circumstances, we can grow. Life is full of opportunities for us to move forward spiritually. Always be looking, like Christ, for both the proactive and reactive ways to grow in favor with God and men. UN