It's Time to Grow Up

It is no sin to be a spiritual infant.  When we begin our new life in Jesus, we may be strong and tall and abounding in intelligence.  We may have lots of friends, we may break records in sports, we may even drive the nicest of cars.  But escaping spiritual infancy isn't going to happen any more than escaping physical infancy. 

Problems arise when we develop physically but remain infants spiritually.  Sadly, many of our churches are filled with people who have been in membership for years, yet still are in their infancy when it comes to spiritual development.

In the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesian  Christians, he addresses this issue.  His discourse uses a phrase we are familiar with..the phrase, "Grow Up."  It is easy for us to understand a child doing childish things, but when an adult does them, he is told to "Grow Up."  Likewise, when Paul was writing to the church in Ephesus, he felt the need to tell the Christians there, "It's time to grow up." 

 

Look at Ephesians 4:14-16

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

A quick inspection on our part will tell us where we are in our spiritual growth process. There are some revealing questions we must ask ourselves if we are going to be brave enough to see where we are and where we need to be.  Do you feel a closer relationship with God now, compared to the relationship you had with him when you first became a Christian?  Is Bible reading more important to you now than 10 years ago?  Do you sense the guidance of the Holy Spirit  in your life more and more as you open yourself to Him?

When we are honest in our answers, we all easily see there are needed improvements.  The encouragement I get from reading the above passage is that when we speak the truth in love and grow up in Jesus, we are well on our way to the spiritual development that pleases God.

Each of us, using our God-given talents, doing our respective work which God has chosen for us, following closely after Jesus, are going to more fully appreciate verse 16.  Read it one more time, in the form of a prayer for your spiritual growth.   "Lord, as we grow into your likeness, may we as your body of believers, each with different talents and gifts, use them as supporting ligaments for the body and build up the church in love.  Amen"

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