Spiritual Maturity
My 10 year old daughter wakes herself up every morning at 7am without fail. Her alarm clock goes off and she hits the books, often beginning school before anyone else has rolled out of bed. Then, when the dog barks because she is up, she stops what she is doing and lets him out. Each day she cleans her room and does all of her chores without being told or complaining. She's a different kind of kid. We don't have any others like her!
One morning, my husband's and my daughter's alarm clocks went off at the same time. She got up and immediately walked down the hall. My husband, who was exhausted, said, "You've got to be kidding me." He had planned on sleeping just a few more minutes, but he couldn't be outdone by his daughter, so up he got. "She's a machine!" he exclaimed.
Our daughter is different. She doesn't have a lot of friends. In fact, many of the girls her age are mean to her. She reads well beyond her age and sees life very differently than her peers. Because of this, she is often ostracized. What makes her so weird? She's spiritually very mature - even for 10 years old. And in her short life, she has decided that she will do things that please God even if they don't please herself.
As I study what she does, I am amazed and encouraged. I'm also challenged to live life similarly. It takes a lot of effort to be spiritually mature. She didn't magically wake up this way, but makes a conscious decision to continually learn and live for God. I know, it is odd that we should consider the life of a 10 year old when considering spiritual maturity, but many of her decisions are ones the Bible promotes. So, what does she do?
First - She studies her Bible every day. In fact, she reads it to her little sister who is six and then explains the meaning of what she read. (Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.)
Second - She doesn't pretend she knows it all. Instead she asks questions when she doesn't understand and learns from her mistakes. (Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.)
Third - She doesn't give up. It doesn't matter what the task is, she works until it is completed. (Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us)
Fourth - She talks to God a lot. One day we were very low on gas coming off the expressway. But the gas station was still 10 miles away. From the back seat, I heard my then 7 year old daughter begin to pray out loud. She finished with this, "And if we do run out of gas, would you please push us to the gas station?" Her relationship with God is very real - not a list of do's and don'ts. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.)
Fifth - She's full of self control. The opening story speaks for itself. (1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified)
Sixth - She loves what is good and hates what is evil. When things on TV or the radio don't align with God's standards, she points it out, explains why, and then requests we change it. (Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.)
Seventh - She's concerned about the salvation and well being of others. Maybe it is because she is young, but she's not afraid to share the Gospel with other children her age. It just comes out of her. I'd like to give her credit for this, but honestly, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.)
Her behaviors may temporarily change as she grows up and life becomes more complicated. But I know this, young Christians are supposed to develop into mature Christians. There are plenty of 60 year old infants still in the church. God does not desire for us to live like Christian babies.
Hebrews can be a difficult book to understand. However in chapter 5, it talks about people who claim to be Christians but never grow in their faith. The words are a bit harsh. But, we all need to be reminded. It is not enough to simply acknowledge Jesus as your Savior. Many people "invite Jesus into their hearts," but God expects us to grow in our relationship with Him. We are not supposed to remain eternal spiritual infants. We are supposed to grow into Christ-like children of the Lord. If my young daughter can be spiritually mature, how much more should we?
One morning, my husband's and my daughter's alarm clocks went off at the same time. She got up and immediately walked down the hall. My husband, who was exhausted, said, "You've got to be kidding me." He had planned on sleeping just a few more minutes, but he couldn't be outdone by his daughter, so up he got. "She's a machine!" he exclaimed.
Our daughter is different. She doesn't have a lot of friends. In fact, many of the girls her age are mean to her. She reads well beyond her age and sees life very differently than her peers. Because of this, she is often ostracized. What makes her so weird? She's spiritually very mature - even for 10 years old. And in her short life, she has decided that she will do things that please God even if they don't please herself.
As I study what she does, I am amazed and encouraged. I'm also challenged to live life similarly. It takes a lot of effort to be spiritually mature. She didn't magically wake up this way, but makes a conscious decision to continually learn and live for God. I know, it is odd that we should consider the life of a 10 year old when considering spiritual maturity, but many of her decisions are ones the Bible promotes. So, what does she do?
First - She studies her Bible every day. In fact, she reads it to her little sister who is six and then explains the meaning of what she read. (Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.)
Second - She doesn't pretend she knows it all. Instead she asks questions when she doesn't understand and learns from her mistakes. (Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.)
Third - She doesn't give up. It doesn't matter what the task is, she works until it is completed. (Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us)
Fourth - She talks to God a lot. One day we were very low on gas coming off the expressway. But the gas station was still 10 miles away. From the back seat, I heard my then 7 year old daughter begin to pray out loud. She finished with this, "And if we do run out of gas, would you please push us to the gas station?" Her relationship with God is very real - not a list of do's and don'ts. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.)
Fifth - She's full of self control. The opening story speaks for itself. (1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified)
Sixth - She loves what is good and hates what is evil. When things on TV or the radio don't align with God's standards, she points it out, explains why, and then requests we change it. (Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.)
Seventh - She's concerned about the salvation and well being of others. Maybe it is because she is young, but she's not afraid to share the Gospel with other children her age. It just comes out of her. I'd like to give her credit for this, but honestly, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.)
Her behaviors may temporarily change as she grows up and life becomes more complicated. But I know this, young Christians are supposed to develop into mature Christians. There are plenty of 60 year old infants still in the church. God does not desire for us to live like Christian babies.
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity...
Hebrews 5:11 - Hebrews 6:1
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