The Power of Growing Up

Growing up is a part of life. I remember as a child thinking about what I wanted to do when I grew up. It is a normal way to think when you are a child. When our children were smaller, we made marks on the doorway indicating their new height and how much they had grown since the last time they had been measured. I remember how excited they were when they knew that they had grown and surpassed the old marks.

In very much the same way, as Christians, we are to grow spiritually and mature in the things of God. Peter, the disciple of the Lord Jesus said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Satan wants us to be carnal and walk according to the dictates of the flesh and to live “as mere men.” But God’s intent is that we grow spiritually and live life the way it was meant to be by growing up into Him. Just being born again does not make us spiritual. If we don’t grow up, we are destined to live in the carnal realm. No one can lay hands on us to get rid of carnality. We must grow out of it.

What must we do to grow spiritually?

1. We must desire to grow. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

2. The Word must becomes revelation instead of information. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; That we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12).

3. Right teaching is essential. We have to consume the right things such as 1) what it means to be a new creation, 2) what it means to be the righteousness of God in Christ, 3) understanding the work of the Holy Spirit, 4) understanding what it means to use the name of Jesus, 5) acting on the Word of God, and 5) holding fast our confession of faith.

Growing up takes time, consistency, and effort on our part. Then God does His part and “works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).