Are you wearing your big boy/girl pants?
In human terms, as we mature we are striving to take what our parents did for us as a launching pad for our lives that we might surpass who they are and what they have accomplished because we started with a leg up because of their growth and sacrifice. We grow to become healthy mature adults by growing in independent.
It is interesting in our spiritual lives, that is somewhat the opposite. We start out in rebellion to God, at war with His plan for our lives and then we spend our lives focusing in on becoming more like Him more and more dependent on Him.
Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus
Ephesians 4:15,16
“…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
The writer of Hebrews challenges us with this
Hebrews 5:11-13
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
So what does it look like to be spiritually mature? What does it mean to be a healthy growing Christian?
- You are learning more about the one you love
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them
Love is based on relationship and if the relationship is not growing it shows dysfunction
- You are digging into the deeper things of God
We read earlier in Hebrews 5:13,14
13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
- You are not waiting for others to feed you
Maturity is shown but the disciple of being in the word being hungry for more practical experiences being “Jesus” to the world
Philippians 1:9,10
“I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return”
Which leads me to our last qualifier of maturity for today
- Constantly learning and teaching
2 Timothy 2:1
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
All of us are called to share what we know with others so they might find the hope we have.
- You’re Growing in Grace
2 Peter 3:18
“…you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, all glory to him, both now and forever! Amen”
Our default response should not be anger or bitterness but forgiveness and grace, even when people don’t deserve it. That’s what grace is.
In review today’s five signs of our maturing faith are
- Always learning more about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Going in deeper with the Word
- Not waiting for others to feed you
- Learning and teaching others
- Grow in grace
Where are you today? If you are doing this rejoice, you are growing if not take it as a challenge to see these signs of growth in your life.
Next week I have five more challenges for you