The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Like Adults"
I recently heard it said, erroneously, "God does not want us to act like adults." Like most misconceptions, a grain of truth exists in the notion.
"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" (Mark 10:15).
Certainly, the reception of God's grace that leads us into relationship with Him begins with our exercising the childlike faith of complete trust and dependence. However, our Heavenly Father does not intend that we fail to grow into spiritual maturity and adulthood. Indeed, we initially receive as a child. We do not, however, remain as a child. The Apostle Paul severely chided the Corinthians for failure to advance in their walk with the Lord.
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal" (I Corinthians 3:1-3)
The New Testament clearly calls born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to "grow up into Him in all things" (Hebrews 4:15). As in earthly development, our Heavenly Father doubtless grieves at the tragedy of the Christian who does not spiritually mature into consistent and increasing Christlikeness. This involves ongoing growth because the One into whose image we are being changed is perfect and infinite in His character, nature, and way. Christian maturity therefore does not involve completion, but rather ongoing progress. However, the New Testament clearly identifies some believers in terms of adulthood, and others as children. Doubtless, we all desire the proper development of the former and not the sad deficiency of the latter. "Let us go on unto perfection" (completion; maturity - Hebrews 6:1).
Wherever we may be along the path of righteousness, the Spirit of God and the Word of God beckon us to come further. If new to faith in the Lord Jesus, we "desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." If further along in our relationship with God, we seek to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18). Certainly, it is fine to be a spiritual baby for a time after being born again. Growth into adulthood, however, should characterize every believer because God does, in fact, want us to act like adults.
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
(Hebrews 5:12-14)
Weekly Memory Verse
The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(Psalm 46:7)
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