IT’S TIME TO GROW UP!

I can remember when I was much younger I used to say “I can’t wait ‘til I am grown.” To me being “grown” was like the ultimate! It meant making my own decisions, my own money and basically doing what I wanted to do. Now that I am actually “grown”, I realize that there is so much more to being “grown” or mature and it’s not as glamorous to me now as it looked when I was younger. It goes beyond a chronological matter and deals with having the ability to make decisions in life and handle the consequences. There is nothing worse than seeing someone who is of age yet they act like they are a child would in certain situations. While they are mature by looking at their age, their actions scream immaturity. This is simply NOT acceptable.

I see this in the spiritual sense as well. Is it acceptable to be spiritually immature? Is it ok to be in the Word, serving God for a substantial amount of time yet you show little to no growth? Is it ok to be in that same place you were in month after month, year after year never growing, learning from your mistakes and making the necessary adjustments to move forward? The answer to all three of these questions is an emphatic “No!”. You see just like we mature chronologically, we should also mature spiritually as well. Staying stagnant has never been God’s will for our lives. He wants us to grow up in Him. It is really a tragedy that some people are still in the same place, doing the same things, going through the same things over and over again. Why is that? Sadly enough it’s simply because they are spiritually immature.

~ When you are spiritually mature you not only study and quote the word, but you apply it to your life putting it into practice. You understand that is the only way to better yourself and please God.

~ When you are spiritually mature you understand that in this life there will be ups and downs, obstacles and triumphs, highs and lows and you face them all with the same tenacity and faith. You trust God and though you may get tired, you don’t give up.

~ When you are spiritually mature you are not impressed by titles and words from people, but you look at the actions of people. Not acting judgmentally, but trying the Spirit, by the Spirit.

~ When you are spiritually mature you understand that no matter who they are, they are human they will make mistakes but you are not shaken when they do because your focus is on Him and not on them.

~ When you are spiritually mature you live the great commission and you understand that it is not about YOU being put on a pedestal, but serving the hungry, the homeless, the have-nots because that’s the example he set for us to follow.

These are some of the signs of spiritual maturity, but there are more. You know where you are in your walk with God. Evaluate it today. Ask yourself, “Am I growing (maturing)?” If you are not, then I say to you out of love, “It’s time to grow up!” God needs the spiritually mature in His vineyard. There is much work to be done and it will require mature believers to do it. Immature Christians need not apply.

Be encouraged today.

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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14