Each of us is at a different level in our spiritual growth and understanding. Some of us (like me) came from a horrendous background, and it has taken much time to have the old removed and the new put in its place. I am referring here to the new way of thinking, as it reflects the Kingdom and its purposes as opposed to the earthly ways of thinking and doing things.
As we each honestly evaluate where we are on our individual ventures of faith, we become better able to fit in with the whole. Just as a newborn baby thinks that he/she IS the whole, which the whole world revolves around, so it is perhaps with newborn baby Christians. For a season of time, they think that it’s about them instead of being about Him.
As we grow from our babyhood state to becoming a toddler, things begin to change for us. We see things differently from before. Then, as we continue to grow and mature, we become teenagers and go through many testings. The trials of our faith produce patience. If we allow patience to be worked in us, and don’t fuss too much, we become perfect and entire, in want of nothing. See James 1:2-4.
Then, we mature into adulthood. We become responsible citizens of the Kingdom. We become able to instruct those younger in the faith in the ways that they should go. Some will listen, and some will not.
These phases of growth are not necessarily related to the length of time that we have known the Lord, although change does take some time. Some people grow more quickly than others.
Where are you in your growth as a Christian? Are you still a baby, thinking that the Kingdom is to revolve around you? Are you a toddler, and seeing many new things? Are you a teenager, going through trial after trial? Or, have you become an adult – with the responsibility of teaching and training others?
If you’ve known the Lord for any length of time, you are hopefully no longer the same as you were when you first came to Christ. You have grown beyond that of the babyhood state, and are continuing to mature toward adulthood. There is wisdom that comes along the way. We are no longer controlled by the passions of our youth, but have surrendered these to the One who has all power; and He is now in control of our lives.
As we each honestly evaluate where we are on our individual ventures of faith, we become better able to fit in with the whole. Just as a newborn baby thinks that he/she IS the whole, which the whole world revolves around, so it is perhaps with newborn baby Christians. For a season of time, they think that it’s about them instead of being about Him.
As we grow from our babyhood state to becoming a toddler, things begin to change for us. We see things differently from before. Then, as we continue to grow and mature, we become teenagers and go through many testings. The trials of our faith produce patience. If we allow patience to be worked in us, and don’t fuss too much, we become perfect and entire, in want of nothing. See James 1:2-4.
Then, we mature into adulthood. We become responsible citizens of the Kingdom. We become able to instruct those younger in the faith in the ways that they should go. Some will listen, and some will not.
These phases of growth are not necessarily related to the length of time that we have known the Lord, although change does take some time. Some people grow more quickly than others.
Where are you in your growth as a Christian? Are you still a baby, thinking that the Kingdom is to revolve around you? Are you a toddler, and seeing many new things? Are you a teenager, going through trial after trial? Or, have you become an adult – with the responsibility of teaching and training others?
If you’ve known the Lord for any length of time, you are hopefully no longer the same as you were when you first came to Christ. You have grown beyond that of the babyhood state, and are continuing to mature toward adulthood. There is wisdom that comes along the way. We are no longer controlled by the passions of our youth, but have surrendered these to the One who has all power; and He is now in control of our lives.
