No More Children
Today's Verse:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ~Ephesians 4:14
Jesus emphasizes the importance of having child-like faith. This kind of faith is sincere and simple. It is a faith that easily grasps the importance of believing that Jesus is the Son of God Who died for our sins. However, it is also important that we grow and mature in the faith to where we are able to discern between good and evil, and true and false doctrine. This morning, we are considering the admonition of being no more children when it comes to our spiritual growth and maturity.
We see the consecrated result in spiritual maturity.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: The intended result is that we become perfect men, or Christlike. We are in a never ending journey of becoming like our Lord in every aspect of our life. Christlikeness means we are dead to self and alive in Him. It is the ability to love like Jesus loved; to endure hardships and contradictions of sinners; to approach every situation on the basis of how God will get the glory; serving with boundless energy; and an unending passion to win the lost. May it be that we set our eyes on attaining the fullness of Christ in our spirit and actions.
We see the capable resource for spiritual maturity.
God has given essential and gifted men who can aid us in becoming Christ-like. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Pastors and teachers are God’s gifts to the church body to build it up and to edify it spiritually. They labor among us in the ministry of the Word and prayer. They help equip us for serving the Lord. They lovingly entrust us with ministry opportunities to build up the believers in Christ. They give us counsel and advice on how to do the work of the ministry. They are God’s agents in leading us into the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
We see the cautioned responsibility for spiritual maturity.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” We must be no more children in our diet of the Word of God. Every believer is to transition from the milk of the Word to the meat of the Word. When we are able to digest the meat of the Word, we are capable of discerning right doctrine from false doctrine; truth from error; good from evil. We must be no more children in our disposition. We must cease from being like children in our attitude, disposition, and reaction to others. We must be no more children in our diligence. Children let things sit and do not move with initiative. Children expect to be served and helped. We must move with a sense of urgency. "The night cometh, when no man can work." We must take responsibility for the growth of our faith.
Let us be no more children and show ourselves as men in our deportment. Christ-likeness is the goal. Develop a plan of action for growth. Have an older mature Christian as your accountability partner. Keep growing!
Have a growth-centric God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 31-35
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