Growing Up

When we speak of growing up, we are typically talking about the physical aging process, where a baby becomes a child, a child a teenager, a teenager a young adult, and a young adult becomes a more mature adult.

Spiritual maturity looks the same, except that physical age has little to do with the process. Author Oswald Chambers writes, “Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of years, but by obedience to the will of God.”

Over and over the Bible reiterates this:

...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

- Colossians 1:10

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

- 2 Thessalonians 1:3

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

- 1 Peter 2:2

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

- 2 Peter 3:18

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way in Hebrews 6:1,

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.

You may have heard the statement before, “God loves you right where you are, but He loves you way too much to leave you there.” Growing in Christ is an expectation of us as His followers. We are not to continue as babies in Christ, but to grow up in Him.

Elyse Fitzpatrick put it this way, “Maturity in the Christian Life is measured by only one test: how much closer to His character have we become?”

Spiritual Maturity is not a quick, easy process, but a long arduous journey. It takes time, patience, perseverance, persistence, responding to weaknesses, overcoming pain, and flat-out obedience to God. According to Billy Graham, Spiritual Maturity should be our goal. He wrote, “Do you want to know God’s will for you? It is for you to become more and more like Christ. This is spiritual maturity, and if you make it your goal, it will change your life.”

I don’t think there is anything I can add to that!

Pastor Ken

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