Maturing in Christ: Spiritual Growth

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11

What does it mean when someone becomes mature? A person is normally thought to be mature when they have left their childlike characteristics and have begun to step into their next stage of life. When a parent deems their child mature, it is because they no longer require the same things as they previously did. They no longer need their hand held 24/7, or need step-by-step instructions. They have more freedom because they can be trusted. As a baby grows, they no longer only need milk and instead, can now start eating whole foods. But more specifically, their appetite begins to change. They no longer crave baby food and milk. Their taste buds have developed, and what was once tasty, no longer satisfies them. The milk is no longer enough to grow them into childhood and adulthood.

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. Hebrews 5:13-14

As we continue to mature in our walk with Christ, we begin to change from the inside out. When we allow the word of God to really penetrate our hearts and as conviction leads us to repentance, our lives begin to change. Being saved and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is just the beginning. Sanctification happens as we begin to look more and more like Christ. It happens as we begin to choose God’s will and his way over our flesh and the world’s agenda. As we continue to mature, we no longer have to wait for God’s prompting to move us, instead, we go searching for God’s hand. We yearn to be in his presence.

When seeking to be more like our Heavenly Father, I always pray that he would align my heart with His and teach me His ways. As a result of that, I no longer have the same desires and wants. My mind has shifted from a “what makes Chelsea happy” to now a “what pleases God” mentality. This doesn’t mean that I always get it right or I don’t have some selfish thoughts/acts sometimes, it simply means that I try to listen for the Holy Spirit. I honor the things that God places on my heart and in my life. Because of this, I try my best to walk in faithfulness to the call. Jada Edwards defined maturity as being able to respond immediately to the Holy Spirit, especially when it goes against the craving of the flesh.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

I remember my good sis always saying, “Don’t ruin your witness” and at first I was like “umm okay girl, whatever, lol”. But now, as I’ve continued to grow in Christ, I know exactly why she said that. As Christ followers, we are always on mission. Our lives should always be a representation of the love and grace of God. The work of the Lord is not for the weak. It takes true discipline and spending time with our Heavenly Father. We all know how easy it is to get distracted and fall into temptation. The Bible tells us that darkness and light can not co-habit. One must reign supreme.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1Peter 2:9-10

As a part of spiritual growth, I try to move based on the Word of God, not my feelings. Because we are still in the flesh, there will always be a battle between The Holy Spirit and our flesh. We know that our flesh moves towards sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, strife and more! (Galatians 5:19-21) It’s almost like teaching a child to eat vegetables. We have to train their taste buds to enjoy the flavors in fruits and vegetables because naturally, we crave sugars and sweets. By consistently adding veggies to their meals, they will get used to it’s flavor. Eventually, they will develop a desire for less sweet things (at least we hope🙃 and sometimes it doesn’t happen until adulthood).

So sometimes, I can’t go. I can’t participate. I’ve had to walk away from certain relationships and conversations that don’t bring glory to God. And what’s interesting is that sometimes I have to make a hard decision to decline, and other times it’s any easy no. I’ve had moments where people say “you’ve changed” or “you do too much, it don’t take all that”. And at one point it was really getting to me, and I began to wonder if maybe I was doing too much. But God reassured me, everybody can’t go where I’m taking you. It doesn’t mean that they are a bad person or less than, it simply means that in this season, I am calling you higher. Jesus wants us to be so in love with Him that when he speaks to us, all the other voices are drowned out. Anything that can cause me to stumble has to be left behind. I can’t afford to get off course.

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,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

There are several times when we see this in The Bible. Since the very beginning, when Jesus told Abraham that he would leave his land and enter a new land (Genesis 12:1). Then fast forward to when Jesus was choosing his disciples. We see them literally leaving everything behind to follow him (Matthew 4:18-22). Jesus even tells the disciples that the reward is great for those who lose their earthly possessions to follow him.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifeor children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

Spiritual growth is a journey. Some days may seem easier than others. Sometimes it will be easy to say “yes” to God. Other times the things happening around us may seem more pressing and tempting. Everyone’s growth process will look different. It’s not always easy, in fact most times it’s not, but I believe as we begin to nurture our relationship with our Father, we will begin to move like him, love like him, speak like him, and live like his son Jesus Christ. As time goes on, we will begin to respond quicker to the Holy Spirit. So yes there will be times when others won’t understand, but God makes it clear to us that we listen for his voice and approval only. I can’t afford to not obey God. Too much depends on our obedience to his callings! He cannot use you when you don’t respond.

But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28

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