# Growing Stronger: The Second Dimension of Development

> Christ increased in stature as well as in wisdom. The health of His body and His mind worked in harmony until the day He died — and the same growth is not beyond the reach of any of us.

- Source: https://timeisathandlive.org/blog/growing-stronger-the-second-dimension
- Site: Time Is At Hand Evangelistic Ministries (https://timeisathandlive.org)
- Topics: Bible study, faith, present truth
- Licence: free to read, quote and share, with attribution.

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> **Luke 2:52** — And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with
> God and man.

This is a clear indication that Christ showed physical growth and development.
As He increased and developed in mind, so He increased in the stature of His
body. He was proper — adhering to strong morals and social standards as well as
to physical health. The health of His body and the health of His mind worked
harmoniously, symmetrically, with each other until He died.

## Physical health is an essential part of holistic growth

> **3 John 1:2** — Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and
> be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

1. **Health of body and mind**
2. **Spiritual health**
3. **Temporal affairs**

These three things are necessary for human development and a prosperous life.
Everyone should earnestly seek to prosper in these blessings.

<figure>
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      srcset="/images/blog/three-blessings-of-a-prosperous-life-400w.webp 400w,
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    />
    <img
      src="/images/blog/three-blessings-of-a-prosperous-life.jpg"
      alt="A diagram of 3 John 1:2 showing three columns — first, health of body and mind, the whole person; second, spiritual health, the soul; third, temporal affairs, the daily work."
      width="1600"
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      loading="lazy"
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  <figcaption>
    <strong>Three blessings to seek</strong>
    The apostle's wish is not for the soul alone. He asks for health and for
    prosperity in the daily work, and measures both against how the soul is
    faring.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

## The mind and the body

> The relation that exists between the mind and the body is very intimate. When
> one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects
> health to a far greater degree than many realize. Many of the diseases from
> which men suffer are the result of mental depression. Grief, anxiety,
> discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces
> and to invite decay and death.
>
> — *The Ministry of Healing*, page 241

Courage, hope, faith, sympathy and love promote health and prolong life. A
contented mind and a cheerful spirit are health to the body and strength to the
soul.

> **Proverbs 17:22** — A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.

<figure>
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              /images/blog/a-merry-heart-doeth-good-1600w.webp 1600w"
    />
    <img
      src="/images/blog/a-merry-heart-doeth-good.jpg"
      alt="Proverbs 17:22 — 'A merry heart doeth good like a medicine' — set on a dark panel over the ministry emblem"
      width="1600"
      height="1000"
      loading="lazy"
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  <figcaption>
    <strong>A cheerful spirit is health to the body</strong>
    Scripture treats the state of the heart as a medical fact, not a sentiment.
  </figcaption>
</figure>

In the treatment of the sick, the effect of mental influence should not be
overlooked. Rightly used, this influence affords one of the most effective
agencies for combating disease.

## An equal and steady growth

In Christ there was an equal and steady growth in both His mind and His body.

> **Luke 2:40** — And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
> wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

### This is the result of an ideal life

1. **Physical health** — "he grew, and waxed strong in spirit."
2. **Intellectual and moral development** — "filled with wisdom."
3. **The grace of God** was upon Him without measure from a child, helping Him
   to will and to do of God's good pleasure, which helped Him to be a recipient
   of favour constantly.

Three stages of growth are indicated in this brief record of His infancy and
youth. From a child, Christ grew and waxed strong in mind and in bodily health.
He had a natural physical body just like ours, and it needed to be trained and
developed into maturity. It is therefore not beyond the reach of any of us.

## A holistic approach

Bodily health needs careful attention and nurturing that will help it reach its
optimum level of function. The heart also needs great reform and transformation.
Everyone should take a holistic approach to supporting the heart and the body —
and a holistic approach means considering the mind, the body and the spirit
operating as one cohesive unit.

It means considering the other factors that affect healthy growth: social
health, attitude and behaviour, family life and community engagement. Confidence,
temperance, and self-preservation against every harmful habit.

It means diet and nutrition, exercise, sleep and the everyday physical activity
that promotes physical health and development.

## What the body is built from

Our bodies are built up from the food we eat. There is a constant breaking down
of the body's tissues; every movement of each organ involves waste, and that
waste is repaired through proper, healthy habits.

Each organ of the body requires its share of nutrition. The brain must be
supplied with its portion; the bones, the muscles and the nerves demand theirs
also. It is an amazing process that transforms food into blood and uses that
blood to build up the varied parts of the body — constantly supplying the body
with life and strength, in each nerve, muscle and tissue.

The original diet consisted of fruits, nuts, seeds and grains, and vegetables,
with no artificial or unnaturally processed food whatever. No form of animal
flesh or dairy product was added until after the flood, and that was the result
of sin.

## Present your body

Our Lord increased in physical health, and we should do likewise.

> **Romans 12:1** — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
> that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
> which is your reasonable service.

1. **Present your body unreservedly to God.**
2. **Run the Christian race**, and exercise its virtues with patience.
3. **Fight the good fight of faith.**
4. **Grow daily in Christ.**

> **Ephesians 4:13** — Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
> knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
> stature of the fulness of Christ.

We must reach up to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. We must
yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

---

**This is the second of four.** Luke 2:52 names wisdom, stature, favour with God
and favour with man. If you have not read it,
[the first dimension](/blog/growing-stronger-wiser-and-better-every-day) works
through wisdom and the mind; the remaining two will follow in this series.

To go further now, [The Sanctuary](/studies/the-sanctuary) is the surest way to
become acquainted with Christ Himself, and
[getting to know Jesus](/studies/getting-to-know-jesus) works through the law,
sin and saving grace.

If any of this raises something you would like to talk through, the team reads
every message: [ask a Bible question](/contact/bible-questions), or
[send a prayer request](/contact/prayer-requests).