Are You Growing Up?   

Mike Pittman, February 14, 2010

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).

"...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head - Christ" (Ephesians4;15).

What do all of the above verses have in common? tt is clear, isn't it, that they encourage Christians to grow. Are you growing? Let's think about some things which might be an indicator that you are growing up.

You are controlling your speech. "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect ("mature" - M.P.) man, able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). What does it say about us when we go around gossiping, backbiting, tying, and speaking unkind words? Isn't it saying that we have some growing up to do?

You are eating solid food. "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age... (Hebrews 5:12-14). It's ok to be "a babe." It's not ok to stay one. Progressing to meatier teachings of the word is a sign of growth.

You are becoming less gullible. "Till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect ("mature" -M.P.) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to a fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head- Christ" (Ephesians 4:13-15). We all need to get to the point where we can identify truth and error. We need to be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and be searchers of the scriptures. We should be serious students of the Bible and not have to be spoon-fed the word of God.

You are acting more mature. You are not petty and selfish - you are thinking of the needs of others and of their feelings. You are not easily offended and vengeful. You do not lose control and throw temper tantrums.

Are you growing up?

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