Basic training is designed to create a strong foundation for your God-kind of life. Once it is over, the basics, your everyday walking-around-kind-of-life will mature to great levels. Then you will be ready for the battles of life.
“The best advice I can give you is to expect change and embrace it. It’s not something to be afraid of.”
-Spc. Kirsten Lindberg
The quote above is regarding the Army preparing one for inevitable life changes. Today’s post will come across strong, but most Christians never graduate from basic training (boot camp), and thus never grow up.
They came to the rally and met Jesus with much horaa, but never followed Him out of the arena. And when it came to boot camp, they sat in the pews as spectators. They may have even gone through boot camp, but their heart wasn’t in it so there was no connection to the everyday life.
Spiritual Milk
I Corinthians 3:2 MSG
But for right now, friends, I’m completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You’re acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I’ll nurse you since you don’t seem capable of anything more. As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything’s going your way?
Going to a building the church meets in every week doesn’t make someone a mature Christian, even after 20 or 30 years. And in the same way, people grow into adulthood, but many of them are still reverting back to childhood ways to get what they want.
Hebrews 6:1-3 MSG
So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there’s so much more. Let’s get on with it!
Like a Child
Though people grow up physically, because that’s what our bodies are designed to do, many are still emotionally 8 years old. You’ve seen it. When an adult doesn’t get their way they throw a tempertantrum.
They may not roll on the floor, flale their arms and scream bloody murder, but they resort to immature and dysfunctional ways to try and get what they want.
Blaming Others
Even worse, they have not yet taken responsibility for their own lives, actions, or mistakes. Childlike behavior is when one projects their own shortcomings, mistakes, and misfortunes onto others. Blaming others is common in those who have not matured. They make excuses.
Some small business owners do this. Those who have excuses are always blaming someone or something for the reason they can’t grow their business. Truth is, those who do this will rarely ever grow their business. This is a common reason for failure.
Moving On To Maturity in Christ
Try standing on your own two feet with Jesus at your side, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit with access to the Father at any given time. Taking your place of authority – see Why God for more on this. Is that common? No. Can one feel silly doing this? Yes. But you will never mature and see Christ at work in your life if you don’t put it into action.
One of my favorite posts is Strength of a Tree. Maturity is growing your roots deep in Christ to be able to weather anything. And even more, it gives you opportunity to bring life to others. See my post also on The River of Life and God Said Live for more.
Let them see and experience Jesus through you. Check out Colton’s song…
Challenge of the Week
Time to take it a step up. What will you do this week in maturing in Christ? Comment below to share and be an encouragement to others. Let your daily walk, in recognizing Christ at every and any moment, be an opportunity to grow into a more mature life. Jesus needs us to grow up in Him. He needs us to be a reflection of Him in all we do. So be it.
