When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. 1 Corinthians 13: 11 – 12 [CEV]
The Christian life is a journey, often there are difficult paths to take and the process of following the example of Jesus is full of pitfalls. I believe that as we learn to follow the leading of the Spirit, we can move from simplistic childish thinking and reasoning to a place of maturity where we can “quit our childish ways” and start to think like mature Christian “adults”.
One of the difficulties here is that sometimes, in trying to advance our maturity, we can get caught up in trying to know more and more, and debating interpretations of biblical passages can take priority over following Christ! We can, if we are not careful, end up with the problem of the disciples who wanted people to stop bringing children to Jesus:
People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18: 15-17 [NIV]
So, in order to receive the kingdom of God, we need to behave like a child – in order to mature in the Christian faith, we need to “quit our childish ways”. Is this confusing?
Often Jesus said that we need to be “born again” – this means that at whatever age you make this step you need to return to the state of baby so that we can be re-formed into a new being. Once we have received the kingdom of God like a child we can start our lives over and then we can start the process of maturing as we are moulded into a likeness of Christ bit by bit through spiritual growth and development.
Have you been “born again”? Were you “born again” many years ago, but are still thinking and reasoning as a child?
Lord, help me to accept you and trust you with the sincerity of a child – teach me and mould me to make me an adult in your image, through your Spirit. Amen
