1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
I love the verse of scripture that we are meditating on today. Oh my I teach/preach on it a lot.
Putting away childish things is a great indicator of spiritual growth and development. As we read this verse of scripture one can see the progression and procession of growth, from a child to a man/adult. You can clearly see how this doesn’t happen overnight. Our natural bodies were created by God. We were fearfully and wonderfully made by His Mighty Meticulous Hand. God “showed out” so to speak when He made man, wonderful are the works of His hand and that my soul knows quite well. He is truly an awesome Creator.
Children are precious; they are so full of life and energy. They are innocent little spirits waiting to be filled. They love to learn and try new things, always watching and downloading information from their surroundings. A child reaching full maturity one day, has a lot to do with the different influences in their live's. Sometimes people are stunted in the growth process because of disease or abuse/neglect. They had the potential and genetic make up to be 6’5” but only reached 4’10 because of improper nutrition or being exposed or coming in contact with toxic agents in their environment. Potential doesn’t always produce the whole package of goods. Children are miniature adults who have not grown into their potential. It is always a horrific sight to see a person with growth retardation. Their lives just seem to be frozen or suspended in one phase of life. Spiritual retardation is very similar. Have you ever seen a person who has been a Christian for 20 plus years but yet spiritually their lives emulate someone who is just a babe in Christ?
They talk like a child, they think like a child, and they act like a child. In their own eyes they think they are mature because of the years but in reality somewhere along the way their spiritual growth and development was interrupted and corrupted. Our spiritual diet has a lot to do with our growth and development. If you feed on the wrong things it will produce wrong results. If you feed on right things you get right results.
The scripture tells us, “Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation, (1Peter 2:2 AMP).
I like that, don’t you? The word unadulterated means: not mixed or diluted with something else, untainted, untouched, and unmodified.
Can you imagine the harm a mother would bring to her newborn baby if she diluted the milk or mixed it with alcohol or other toxic substance? The baby would have devastating physical consequences. How much more if we receive diluted or tainted spiritual food? God’s will for every believer is that we grow and flourish. The Father wants us all to experience the proper growth and development so that we can reach full maturity and finish our Divine Destinies.
If you examined the words that come forth from your mouth on a daily bases do they sound like the spiritual vocabulary of a 2 year old? Now if you are a baby Christian that’s fine, you are where you are by the grace of God and as you continue to hunger and thirst after God you will be filled so that you can be nurtured and grow. However, if you have been saved and living a Christian life for many years you should have made some notable progress by now. What do your thoughts sound like? If we were to put a spiritual microphone up to your mind, what would we hear? How do you act when under pressure or persecution? Do you throw spiritual temper tantrums or do you display the love and peace of God? Are the works of the flesh still more a part of your life than the fruit of the spirit?
My friend, if this describes your current spiritual condition please don't get offended and run and hide. God loves you and desires to see you enjoy the abundant life. Many times the only thing we need to do to get back on track is make a few adjustments in our daily walk with God. Once you get in the flow again you will begin to see supernatural growth spurts in no time. Don't allow Satan to frustrate your purpose by getting up-set every time you hear a word of correction or instruction for your life. It's time to man-up/woman-up... you know what I mean :).
When I was a child certain behavior was tolerated and expected but when I became an adult the same behavior became repulsive. There’s nothing wrong about being a baby, actually babies are a joy to any life both spiritually and naturally but there comes a time when we all must grow up.
Romans 8:19
For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].
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