Spiritual Growth (Part 3 of 3)
When you were a child, did you ever wish that you were older? Maybe you didn't want to go to school anymore, but wanted to work so that you would have money. Maybe you wanted to drive and be more independent. I remember feeling this way. It seemed to take forever to graduate high school. When it happened, I was ready to do whatever I wanted disable the alarm clock and sleep in, hang out and not worry about homework, buy whatever I wanted and not answer to anyone--just pure FREEDOM! However, now that I am an adult, I think back to how easy we had it as children. We didn't have to work, pay bills, be responsible, or take care of others. The only thing that I really worried about was school, homework, and friends. Life was so simple compared to now. As children we were carefree, taken care of, jubilant; we didn't worry about anything!
I look at my three-year old and she is so energetic, full of life, and jolly. She laughs, dances, sings, and thinks the world revolves around her. She is also impressed by things which we take for granted. My daughter loves the snow, whereas I see it as a burden. She is intrigued by bugs, twigs, leaves, and water. Kids see the world so differently that we do. They're happy to be given a coin, whereas some of us feel we aren't compensated enough for our work. Little things make them happy and some of us can't even hang on to joy. Our spiritual walk with God can be like this. We are easier to please, have more faith, and are more joyful as Babes in Christ. I remember how it was as a Babe in Christ. God was answering prayers almost daily and quickly it seemed. Everything that happened was a small miracle or blessing from God. I saw good in everything and knew God loved me. God supplied all my needs and everything always seemed to fall in place. God was constantly showing me His Glory, Power, and Love. I saw the world differently and had so much joy! It was amazing! Furthermore, every worship song I heard spoke directly to me, and warmed my heart. I'd read the Bible and the verses would jump off the page. Every Bible verse my eyes fell on gave me more hope, faith, peace, and joy. And when life was rough, there was always a Bible verse to comfort and encourage me. God would shower me with love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, and grace. Now when I see new believers, I challenge them to pray and ask God for things because I know He will do it. He will do it if we believe and have faith, like children. This is how He builds our faith.
But now, I am no longer a Babe in Christ nor am I a child in my faith, but a mature Christian. I am in no way being boastful, but I know that I am no longer a babe because of God's Word. While it is true that I still have a lot to learn; God has grown my faith. You will know when God has taken you to a new level. What makes someone a mature Christian you may wonder? In the Bible, there are many references to solid food and meat. Meat or solid food means seeing depth in God's Word and understanding it in a deeper level. The meat of the Word has more for you to take in, chew, and digest. As you mature, you gain more and more insight, and have Godly wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
Those mature in the faith are teaching or ready to teach. They can lead people to Christ, answer questions about the faith, mentor others, live godly, and naturally share the love of Christ. Hebrews 5: 12-14 tells us that those who live on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their sensibilities to distinguish good from evil. This means that mature Christians don't have the same attitudes, thought patterns, and behavior as others, but we have been renewed. We pray before we bring our problems to others. Our actions please God and we do not act senselessly. We make allowance to be disrespected, and are not easily offended. We don't talk gibberish, but speak in a way that is pleasing and glorifying to God. Romans 12:2 says and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. We cannot be mature in Christ if we still look, act, and talk the way we did when we first accepted Christ.
Additonally, we recognize that we are nothing without Jesus. We don't worry or fear, but rely on the One who holds everything in the palm of His hands. A godly person sets their minds on the spiritual things and the things above, not the things of the world (Colossians 3:1). The one who is mature in faith looks and acts more and more like Christ. God's Word says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). Being mature in the faith means our love has grown, we are merciful, forgive easily, and repent quickly. We live to please God and not ourselves. We run to God, not to people, and He is where we draw our strength from. We trust God to answer prayers, but are ok with Him not answering our way, or even at all. We praise Him in hardship and thank Him for all things. We ask Him to try and test us, to search our hearts and to change us. We ask what He wants from us instead of telling Him everything we want, and we pray His will be done.
We stand on our faith and don't willingly sin or walk away from Christianity. We bear fruit and our lives glorify God. We don't fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18). Also, we are watchful and not easily enticed by the things of the world or those who claim they are of God. Ephesians 4:14 says of us as a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). This is how we know that we are mature in the faith. There are many more Bible verses and other examples of a mature believer, but I encourage you to study them yourself. Being in mature in the faith comes with many tests and trials, but it is well worth it. There will also be times when God will humble us, and show us that we still have much to learn and we may need to go back to the basics. Being a mature Christian doesn't mean we stop seeking God, or reading His Word. Trust in God and know that He is with you every step of the way.
Let us Pray.
Father God,
I thank you for Your Word and verses that help us grow in our spiritual maturity. I thank You that it is according to Your Will that we grow in our faith. Let us grow deeper and give us Your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I pray that we would be steadfast, persevere, and endure so that we will receive our crown of life (James 1:12). As we grow in Christ, may our character and actions reveal godliness and glorify You. Let us love more, be humble, patient, have self-control, and be faithful. Help us to live Christ-like, and exhibit the change and transformation You have done in us. We thank You for beginning this good work in us and trust You to finish it. All praise, power, glory, honor, and dominion is Yours. In Jesus' name, amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
