Maturity...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 7:08AM 
Good Day, Friends!
Susie Larson here...
And to those visiting, I say welcome!
I post every Wednesday and my goal is to nourish your soul and challenge your faith along the way.
I'm writing this from my sick bed and I'm scheduled to speak in Georgia this weekend. Please pray for a divine and swift recovery if you think of me. :)
If you take the time to post on my blog in March, you may win a $10.00 gift card to either Caribou or Target (your choice). So drop me a note and say hi!
Now on to my topic.
With one son getting ready to graduate from college, and another pondering the idea of marriage, and still another making plans to take his darling girlfriend to the prom, I can't help but think about the various phases of life.
I love my boys, and while I see plenty of areas in their lives that still need to be refined, I think they are exceptional young men because they each possess a tender, teachable, humble heart. And to me, that's worth more than gold.
I'm not one of those moms who is blind to her children's foibles. I'm a straight talker when it comes to addressing the low or inconsistent places in their character. I won't be sympathetic towards a trait that could very well diminish the kind of husbands, fathers, employees, and Christ-followers they are called to be.
Even so, every day, several times a day, I let them know I love them. They know it so well, that when times of confrontation come, they stand up a little taller knowing that this too will equip and mature them into healthy, fully-devoted followers of Christ.
According to Ephesians, we are all called to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves...rather, by speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body is joined and held together.
So what are the stages of spiritual growth and just what does spiritual maturity look like?
My guess is that spiritual maturity looks a lot like physical maturity.
Let's look at the various stages of life (of course, there are always exceptions).
Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions?
Infancy ~ Needs to be bibbed, fed, and burped. Is totally reliant on the adult for sustenance and care. Will die without adult supervision.
Toddler ~ Knows enough to be dangerous. Can get around but repeatedly runs into things, falls down, spills the beans, and throws tantrums. Needs to be loved, corrected, guided, and discipled. Needs grace and boundaries.
Pre-Schooler ~ Ready to venture out just beyond his small world but with supervision and guidance. Likes structure and feels safe within his predictable schedule. Learning to ride without training wheels.
Elementary Schooler ~ Feels scared and thrilled at the thought of new and various kinds of friends. Feels insecure and too sure of himself, sometimes at the same time. Thinks the world is as big as what his eyes can see (not knowing that his world is no larger than Who-ville). Likes to venture out for short stints, but likes the idea of coming back home again. Can be demanding.
Middle Schooler ~ Has morphed into a self-centered, 'the world revolves around me' alien. Thinks that if left to him and his co-horts, they could do a mighty job of running the world. Has learned advanced skills that the older folks know nothing about, but lacks the character, humility, and wisdom to do and be everything he thinks he can be. Thinking through decisions isn't something he thinks of.
High Schooler ~ While some are still self-centered at this age, others have eaten some humble pie and as a result, have gained a new appreciation for those who have gone before them. Some begin to think about the impact they might make in the world (others have to wait until college; still others, never get this far).
College ~ They know enough now to understand how little they know. Still, as the Bible says, "Knowledge puffs up, love builds up." This is the stage where there's a definite fork in the road. Some will relinquish faith and make an idol out of what they know. Others will appreciate knowledge while embracing their faith. Either way, there's a sense of how big the world is and how important it is to get out of the comfortable zone.
Young Adulthood ~ This is a tough time and an exciting time. Young adults are getting their legs under them, but understanding afresh just what it takes to make it in the big world. The elder people they once criticized they now appreciate, though they might never tell them. Though most start with small beginnings, here's where some plant seeds for tomorrow's big dreams. Some camp here and never get beyond the status they inherited, but others see the possibilities in their trials; they embrace hope and faith and love and through difficult seasons they are refined, and as a result, they are being groomed as tomorrow's leaders.
Adulthood ~ It's no longer so important that we impress others; it's more important to have peace in our heart and right thoughts in our head. Instead of making a big deal out of the big things we accomplish, we make a big deal out of the little things our kids accomplish. We are more intent on making a broader impact than on being the center of attention.
~~~
Okay, that's just my take.
We are called to go from strength to strength, and from glory to glory. And yet, some never mature beyond spiritual infancy. As soon as it's time to stand up and learn to walk and feed themselves, they walk out the door in search of a bigger high chair.
In his study, "Consider Him" author Tom Kelby writes, "Spiritual infancy is not a bad thing for those who are truly newly born in Christ. However, healthy babies grow. If they do not, something is wrong. And this is one of the greatest problems in the church today. Babies are not growing."
Read this confrontation from Ephesians 5:11-14:
"About this (immaturity) we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil" (ESV).
Regarding this passage, my Believer's Commentary states: Professing believers who stay on a milk diet are unskilled in the word of righteousness. They are hearers of the word but not doers. They lose what they do not use, and remain in a state of perpetual infancy."
The mature believer understands the paradox that she is nothing and everything. She is everything to God and nothing without Him.
She allows hard times to refine her, but not define her.
She remains teachable in times of correction, but confident in God's love (He disciplines those He loves).
She applies what she knows and wants desperately to grow.
She'll take on things that seem over her head when called to; she'll also tend to things that seem beneath her with the same humble confidence.
Dear friends, let us run this race set before us and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith - who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross.
May we grow into the beautiful, holy, and confident people God has called us to be!
Until next week...
~~~
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Susie's January Ezine
Reader Comments (17)
I love you! -Rebecca
Thanks for your prayer of blessing regarding my health. Well, a miracle has happened, truly. I was so sick last night that it seemed an impossibility to travel this weekend. But this morning I woke up and took a giant leap forward and I'm making the trip! I still need my body to recover all the way but I can tell I am supposed to go.Bless you for your prayers and I'm so thankful you enjoyed the post!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I appreciate your desire to be a mature believer. I feel the same way.
Don't you think we have the capacity to take three steps forward and two steps back?
In fact, I think we may be mature in one area of our lives, and still a baby in another.
That's why I think it's good to take inventory on occasion.
May God bless you richly!
Peace~
I don't know how to thank you for your "faithfulness in prayer"!
Your word to me is a timely one and I embrace it.
May God make you strong and steadfast in Him.
Blessings to you~
Much love my sister,Amanda
I agree with you...I'd say we as individuals, we as families, and we as local Church bodies also fall into one or more of these categories.
That's why I love the idea of taking inventory on a regular basis. It's always good to pay attention to where we're growing and where we are not. :)
I am thrilled to know you're enjoying the Balance book!
I tend to write like I speak...I pack a lot in. :)
I pray that you are able to glean everything the Lord has for you as you read.
Thanks for the note of encouragement today! :)
Ooh, I love this story! Isn't it something how when we weave these "normal" Kingdom habits into our daily living, that they become a part of the fabric of our kids' lives?
I'm so glad you posted that story.
Bless you~
What a blessing to hear from you! Thanks so much for your note.
I'm amazed that I was well enough to make that trip.
God is good, all the time. :)
May God continue to fan the flame in your heart.
Be blessed~