Growing Up

“Growing up”

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” – 1 Peter 2:2-3

     Looking back on the decisions we have made, either recently or retrieved from the archives, they sometimes seem immature.   When I do this I wonder why I was so childish and silly.  Even things from last week hit me in a weird way.  Growing up involves maturing and taking on more responsibility which includes learning how to give up our “old ways” and apply “new ways” in living.  What may have seemed really cool and “grown-up” as a little kid, now seems really childish.  Certain things are expected of us at different ages, as we continue to gain responsibility and mature.  The same is for our faith.  As we continue to learn about God we grow and become more mature in our beliefs and the knowledge we have.  It is important, however, that we DO grow up and don’t get stuck and remain “spiritual infants”.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

     The world makes it hard for us to live correctly because there are so many different patterns to follow.  Each pattern however has the same goal behind its image – to serve self and not God.  When we fall into the pattern of the world it is easy to fall completely! As spiritual infants we are not fully equipped to fight against the world or resist its patterns.  We need help in guiding our lives in the right direction.  God’s direction may not always make sense to us, but if we persevere we know we are promised better conclusion will result.  

“Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2 Peter 2:2

It is often hard to break the old patterns of living and take the necessary steps forward to learning something new and foreign to us.  It’s the same way in our faith.  As kids we learn all the bible stories and memorize John 3:16 a hundred times, but when we grow up the stories are no longer simple lessons learned while eating crackers and drinking Kool-Aid.  They become real and applicable in every day life.  They become our life and a challenge to live out if we choose to live it.  When we reach that point in life it becomes harder to take the next step and not let the world talk us out of it.

“This is the love for God; to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.” 1 John 5:4-6

     The people that we interact with throughout our younger years play a big role in what we believe and how we think about things.  It is very important to be taught and learn about God, but it is also important to actually believe in God, not because your pastor said to, but because true life can’t work any other way!  We grow up believing what we are taught only because we don’t know any better, but as we mature the things we have been taught over and over again a part of the foundation for our growing faith.  As we grow and mature we think more in depth and stuff starts to connect in ways we never thought of before. If you only believe things because someone told you it was right, or because that’s just what everyone else thinks then I think you need to take a step back and look at your reasons for having faith.  Is it because you believe or because others believe?  The teachings we receive as kids, and even young adults, play a very important role in the beliefs we have as adults but are way more advanced and connected through a deep and real relationship with God.

“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.” – Ephesians 4:14

     Even though it is important as spiritual infants to crave God’s word, we can’t allow ourselves to remain spiritual infants in our faith.  We may feel safe in the “highchair” of this world, but we are completely open and vulnerable.  We need to become the soldiers God designed us to become.  We need to become the servants we are all equipped to be; we need to be friends of the one who calls Himself King!  Where are you?