“That we should no longer be
children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”—Ephesians
4:14
Growing up is a process. Just as you were not born a full grown human naturally
or physically, neither are you born into the Kingdom of God, as a full grown
Christian. The Scripture teaches that we are newborn
babe, and then we grow up, “As newborn
babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter
2:2).
The characteristics of the childhood stage of spiritual
development are similar to the physical. Some of these characteristics
include: Unreliable, full of curiosity, talkative, always filled with
self-importance and foolish speaking.
Unreliable—Young
children can be unreliable. When given
an assignment to complete, a child will begin the assignment with enthusiasm;
however, the assignment is easily forgotten when something else comes along
that gets their attention. For example, before
our children went to sleep they were expected to put up their toys. When my husband or I stayed in the room, the
toys got put up; however, if we left the room most of the time when we
returned, the children would be playing with the toys, and not much progress would
have been made in putting up the toys. I
have people tell me all the time that they are going to do something, but they
never follow through with their promises—they are unreliable.
Full
of curiosity—Children are full of curiosity. When our grandchildren, come to visit they
always want to know what is in the cupboards and drawers, and if we have gone
grocery shopping they begin to look in the bags. Spiritual children often act in the same
manner. They want to know what is going
on in someone else’s personal life, and are often the first ones to spread
rumors and gossip. The works of the
flesh are produced in their life, instead of, the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
(Galatians 5:22-23).
Talkative—After
a child learns how to talk, it seems like that they will never learn to be
silent. They are talkative. People in the childhood stage of spiritual
development are talkative, too. The Word
of God admonishes that sin comes when there is a lot of talking going on, but
you are wise if you do not talk a lot. “In the multitude of words sin is not
lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). Also, Ecclesiastes 5:3 says, “…A fool’s voice is known by his many words.” Some years ago, the Lord spoke to my
heart to, “Study to be quite.”
Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin once said about
Christians who are in the childhood stage spiritually that, “Folks who are
talking all the time are usually guilty of at least three sins. They are often guilty of evil speaking—talking about
and discussing the faults and failures of people not present. They are guilty of vain speaking—always talking
about them self; what I’ve done; what I’m going to do; where I’ve been. And they are often guilty of foolish
speaking—jesting, joking, and things that unprofitable.”
It is natural for a mother, father,
or guardian of a child to want them to grow-up and develop into a mature
responsible adult. The same is true with
our Heavenly Father, “And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children tossed
to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of
men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in
love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians
4:11-15).
Spiritually mature Christians do not tell
filthy jokes, or talk foolishly even in a joking manner; but give thanks to
God, “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,
nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks”
(Ephesians 5:4). The spiritual
mature Christians puts God first, and that the things of this earth do not have
priority in their life. Today, purpose
in your heart to identify where you are spiritually, and if some adjustments
need to be made He will help you. He
wants us to become more and more like Him.
After all, we are His children and we should identify with His
characteristics.
Father—Thank
You that I am Your child. Lord, I ask
You to help me to grow and develop into a spiritually mature Christian made
into Your likeness. Today I put-off
childish ways, in Jesus Name. Amen.
