This week’s devotions are based on Week 7 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
As we grow up in life, we periodically get asked this question. Often it is a question of curiosity that is limited to simply knowing how long you have been alive on this planet. Other times, the question can be a bit loaded. It might be asked like this, “How old are you anyway?”
You see with age comes an assumed level of maturity. Different ages have different allowances for behavior. If you are two years old and you see a toy in the store that you think you have to have you may have a total meltdown right there with a screaming fit. People will look and empathize with the mom or dad and think to themselves, “Tough to have a two-year-old!” However, if a 32-year-old individual throws a similar fit, people will ask “How old are you anyway?” Why? Because we have a different expectation of behavior from a 32-year-old than from a 2-year-old.
Why is that?
We expect children to mature into adults. We expect that some of the behaviors, thoughts, and patterns of speech will change as one has more experience in this world and with people in general. It doesn’t always happen naturally. The two-year-old has parents who love him and seek to help him understand how to manage their emotions, control their temper, and act in a more pleasant way.
Growing up means ideally maturing from infancy to adulthood.
What about spiritually?
How old are you anyway?
Perhaps it’s hard to measure “maturity” on a scale or expectations for Christians that have been a Christian for one year versus 70 years. However, the expectation of maturity is certainly one the Lord desires and has provided people to help us. Paul puts it this way:
Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14 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.
What does maturity look like? Perhaps we could identify these five things:
- We are becoming more and more Christlike in our thoughts, words and actions.
- Our faith is deeply rooted in Scripture and expresses itself in unity of others doing the same.
- Our knowledge of the Son of God and his Word of truth is increasing. We know and apply more of the Scriptures in our lives.
- We are serving with our gifts, accepting the training and guidance of Christian leaders.
- We are able to discern false teaching and the lies and deceits of Satan.
As Paul said, “then we will no longer be infants.”
Spiritual maturity only comes when God’s Spirit through his Word and those leaders he’s given to us work on our hearts, minds and actions. In fact, maturity comes much quicker and more fully when you have others around you to help and guide you. Just like a child matures in a more full and healthy way with parents who help them, so we too need a Christian community to help us along this path from infancy to maturity.
So grow up…with God’s help, the Spirit’s guidance and the support of your Christian family.
Apply: Which of the five areas of maturity are you “youngest” in? How might you be intentional about maturing in these areas?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us a life that is rooted in you. Help us to continue to grow up in our faith, maturing to be the people you have called us to be. AMEN.