BABES IN CHRIST

Immaturity causes problems–lots of problems! If you don’t believe me just watch the toddlers. They kick, cry, pull hair, scream, and do whatever they must to get attention or some item they want. We ought to be thankful that they aren’t 6′ tall and 200 pounds–someone would get hurt bad! O wait— there are some babes that large. They are babes in Christ (1 Cor.3:1-3) and they will tear a church to pieces. Spiritual immaturity is to be expected from new Christians, but they ought to grow out of it. Sadly some never do (Heb.5:12-14). They want to be seen and heard. They insist on getting their way and they throw a fit when they don’t. They pose a great threat to the church.

One of the marks of a mature believer is his recognition of the fact that he needs to keep growing. The apostle Paul is a good example of that (Phil.3:12-14). Unlike a lot of folks he knew he had a lot of room for growth. Commenting on Paul’s statement in Phil. 3:12-14, Pastor Greg Laurie makes these observations:

Are you satisfied with your spiritual life right now? I am not satisfied with mine. I feel there is a lot of growing I still need to do. I feel there are a lot of things I still need to learn and a lot of changes that still need to happen in my life. And guess what? The same is true for you.

The enemy to growth is contentment. There is a place for being content as a Christian, but never be content with where you are spiritually. You should always be wanting more—wanting to learn more and wanting to grow more.

This is where people often have a breakdown when it comes to keeping their resolutions. They just give up. They think, I can never do it. I am just going to accept who I am and where I am. I will just accept things the way they are. But that is not good enough. We need to commit ourselves to get past the barriers and meet the goals we have set, whether it is growing spiritually or getting in better shape so we can live productive lives for God’s glory. We need to keep raising the bar for ourselves.

The apostle Paul, after years of walking with God, said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after , if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12). To loosely paraphrase, Paul was saying, “I am not satisfied with where I am. I want to keep growing and progressing spiritually.”

So don’t settle with where you are spiritually. Be thankful for how far God has brought you, but at the same time, keep moving forward to what is still ahead.