We all Start Somewhere
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2
John Maxwell tells this astute story: “A group of tourists visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”
Whether you have been saved 4 days, 4 months, 4 years, or 44 years, the Lord has called you to be a “Growing Christian.” We all start at the same place in our relationship to God. When we are “born again,” at the moment of our believing in the Gospel, we start a new, spiritual life.
The Bible is what new and old Christians are nurtured with. The more we read and apply, hear and change, study and implement, the more we grow to be like Jesus. None of us are born “great.” We are born to serve a “great God!”
One sad truth in Christianity is that some believers never grow up spiritually. This has been a problem since the start of the church. The letters to the churches that Paul wrote were in many cases to help the young churches to grow up in their faith. From lustful desires to hateful relationships, the early church needed to grow.
When we do not desire the Word like a baby desires milk, we do not grow like we should. Examples include:
- Continuing to be Stubborn in Spirit.
- Consistently Rebellious in Heart.
- Contentment in Judging Others.
- Complaining to Feel Better.
- Character Assignations of Others.
- Charging into a Talk with Anger.
Brethren, if you are behaving like the points above, you have some areas to grow up in. It could be that you think yourself to have “arrived” but you may not give as much value or as much of a lasting testimony to the work of God in your life. Your behavior is reflecting who you really are. Your “being” is still in childhood. Feeding on the desires of the flesh and the pride of life need to be exchanged for feeding on the Word of God. You can do better than being a “Big Baby.” God can help you grow out of spiritual infanthood.
You got to eat. We must consistently read, study, hear, and apply the Bible to our lives. Decide to grow up in Jesus by consuming more of the Word today.
Salvation is the start to a lifetime of growing and becoming more like Jesus. Don’t’ just start. Start and finish. We do not “arrive” until we get to Heaven. Give grace to others along the way. Decide to be more like Jesus. Then. Be. Like. Him.
EDC Christian 