I have a picture to show you today. Who can tell me what you see in this picture? Yes, its a butterfly and a worm. But this isn't just any butterfly of just any worm. The butterfly is called a Monarch butterfly. It is one of God's most beautiful creations. The worm is actually a caterpillar. It is a monarch butterfly in its first stage, before it grows up. The caterpillar looks like a nasty worm, doesn't it. But it will change into a butterfly. First it spins a cocoon around itself. Then it rests in the cocoon while its body changes from that of a caterpillar to a butterfly. God knows that the caterpillar become a butterfly. and even thought the caterpillar looks totally unlike the beautiful monarch. God knows its potential for beauty.

The same is true of us as people. Other people may look at you and see only a boy or girl. But God sees what else you can become. The Bible tells us that Jesus pleased God as He grew up to be a man. Luke 2:52 tells us that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature(or size) and in favor with God and man. God expects you to grow up and change just like Jesus did. He expects you to increase in wisdom by learning a lot at school and at church. God expects you to be healthy in the way you eat and exercise so your body will increase in size. and He expects you to try to please your heavenly father as well as people here on earth.

Someday you will change from a child into an adult just as the caterpillar changes into a butterfly. Let's ask God to help you make that change in a way that will be pleasing to him.

Prayer: As we grow up, we ask that you would help us become boys and girls that would please our heavenly father.  Amen.