Maturing In Christ
As a parent I often get impatient with my kids, I have spoiled them, and so they like things easy, so when I expect them to be helpful, they make excuses. Training a child takes work, one cannot expect a child to figure everything out on their own, they need parental guidance. Children are lazy and disrespectful because we allow them to be. To raise up a child in a godly manner will require time, effort, and persistence. Parental neglect is one of the biggest causes behind behavioral issues. Children are guided more by media than anything else. What one absorbs will create the thought patterns that decisions are based on. So if we expect our kids to be shaped the way we want them to be then we as parents got to be the chief guiding factor.
It is understandable for a toddler to still be crawling but above toddler it means there's a disability. When someone's maturity level is stunted much below there age, it is called arrested development. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 4 that they need to get up and walk better yet, run, meaning they should be further ahead. There is a process of spiritual growth that parallels natural growth. God desires His children to mature, for the more they grow the more they reflect Him.
We need to learn how to parent, how to help others mature, for very few of us were parented well ourselves, therefore we don't have the personal example, but thank God for the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things pertaining to life and godliness. We are instructed in Ephesians 4 to correct in humility, for making someone feel less than is pride, and resistance will follow . We are to be an outpouring of God's love. The consistent love shared will break down walls and open hearts and the response will eventually be honor and respect.
Ephesians 4:4-6 reminds us that we all have one God, one faith, one baptism, who rules over, works through, and is present in all. So we must learn to trust Him, and do all we can to stay united with one another despite all our differences. Since we are so different, we can't expect to make someone always see the same way we do, so how united can we truly become. Instead of our differences dividing us we should celebrate them for they balance us out, that is a mature perspective. When differences arise we who are mature are to quickly mend them. We are not to wait for the other to apologize we must take the initiative. If the difference is something that is ungodly and they are not willing to receive truth, let us not argue but pray that God will help show them the Truth, and just continue to love them and hope that with time when there heart is ready they will see things differently.
It is much easier to connect with those you can relate with, that is why we have so many different groups within the church, but how then can we help each other grow if we are around only those at a similar level? We are one body and have a part to play with different responsibilities, which includes our own growth and helping others grow. So therefore we need to be part of a variety of groups that allow for all our spiritual responsibilities to be met.
Ephesians 4:7-13 states that Christ (the anointing) has supplied us with gifts for the purpose of building up the body. Some of us have been given the gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher for equipping each member with the necessary grace to mature and develop into the fullness of Christ. Each of these offices within the body are like different nutrients and each member needs an adequate amount of each to grow in a healthy balanced manner. It is the wide variety of these gifts that I regularly receive from that has allowed me to mature at such a rapid rate. The Apostle keeps me focused on Christ and helps me see the big picture, the Prophet speaks into specific areas within my heart that need work on and helps me discover my identity, the evangelist prepares me in spreading the gospel and winning souls, the Pastor helps me through my daily struggles, the teacher keeps me grounded on God's Word.
God does not want us to stay at the maturity level of a child for good. He wants us to keep the faith of a child, simply trusting Him, but growing in responsibility, so we can reflect Him in all of His ways. Children can be easily persuaded or taken advantage of, moved by different winds of doctrine, a responsible adult is steadfast, unmovable, cannot be easily shaken by the circumstances around them. Maturity as we have seen cannot come by being isolated being part of the body means we need each other to grow.
It is understandable for a toddler to still be crawling but above toddler it means there's a disability. When someone's maturity level is stunted much below there age, it is called arrested development. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 4 that they need to get up and walk better yet, run, meaning they should be further ahead. There is a process of spiritual growth that parallels natural growth. God desires His children to mature, for the more they grow the more they reflect Him.
We need to learn how to parent, how to help others mature, for very few of us were parented well ourselves, therefore we don't have the personal example, but thank God for the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things pertaining to life and godliness. We are instructed in Ephesians 4 to correct in humility, for making someone feel less than is pride, and resistance will follow . We are to be an outpouring of God's love. The consistent love shared will break down walls and open hearts and the response will eventually be honor and respect.
Ephesians 4:4-6 reminds us that we all have one God, one faith, one baptism, who rules over, works through, and is present in all. So we must learn to trust Him, and do all we can to stay united with one another despite all our differences. Since we are so different, we can't expect to make someone always see the same way we do, so how united can we truly become. Instead of our differences dividing us we should celebrate them for they balance us out, that is a mature perspective. When differences arise we who are mature are to quickly mend them. We are not to wait for the other to apologize we must take the initiative. If the difference is something that is ungodly and they are not willing to receive truth, let us not argue but pray that God will help show them the Truth, and just continue to love them and hope that with time when there heart is ready they will see things differently.
It is much easier to connect with those you can relate with, that is why we have so many different groups within the church, but how then can we help each other grow if we are around only those at a similar level? We are one body and have a part to play with different responsibilities, which includes our own growth and helping others grow. So therefore we need to be part of a variety of groups that allow for all our spiritual responsibilities to be met.
Ephesians 4:7-13 states that Christ (the anointing) has supplied us with gifts for the purpose of building up the body. Some of us have been given the gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher for equipping each member with the necessary grace to mature and develop into the fullness of Christ. Each of these offices within the body are like different nutrients and each member needs an adequate amount of each to grow in a healthy balanced manner. It is the wide variety of these gifts that I regularly receive from that has allowed me to mature at such a rapid rate. The Apostle keeps me focused on Christ and helps me see the big picture, the Prophet speaks into specific areas within my heart that need work on and helps me discover my identity, the evangelist prepares me in spreading the gospel and winning souls, the Pastor helps me through my daily struggles, the teacher keeps me grounded on God's Word.
God does not want us to stay at the maturity level of a child for good. He wants us to keep the faith of a child, simply trusting Him, but growing in responsibility, so we can reflect Him in all of His ways. Children can be easily persuaded or taken advantage of, moved by different winds of doctrine, a responsible adult is steadfast, unmovable, cannot be easily shaken by the circumstances around them. Maturity as we have seen cannot come by being isolated being part of the body means we need each other to grow.
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