“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly–mere infants in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1
Leaving Behind Childish Ways
When we first come to faith in Christ, we are like newborn babies – dependent, helpless, and lacking understanding.
Just as a baby needs milk and care from its mother, a new believer needs basic spiritual nourishment and discipleship to grow.
However, we are not meant to remain in this infant state forever. The goal is to mature into spiritual adults who live by the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately, some believers get stuck in perpetual infancy. They never move beyond elementary teachings about God and live according to their fleshly impulses rather than the leading of the Spirit.
The Corinthian church struggled with this issue. Paul rebuked them for being worldly and acting like infants in Christ.
They were still feeding on milk when they should have been digesting solid food and living by the Spirit’s power.
To become spiritual adults, we must make a conscious effort to grow up in our faith. This requires dedicating ourselves to prayer, Bible study, fellowship, serving, and living out what we learn.
As we yield to the Spirit daily, He will transform us to be more like Jesus. Our actions and attitudes will become more Christlike.
We will gain spiritual wisdom and discernment to navigate life’s challenges. God wants us to keep maturing until we reach full maturity in Him.
Laying the Groundwork
A strong foundation is essential for any building to stand firm and tall. In the same way, our spiritual growth requires a solid basis upon which God can build our faith and Christlike character.
This groundwork includes understanding core doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, salvation by grace, and the authority of Scripture.
Knowing biblical truths about who God is and how He operates in the world anchors us when trials come.
Understanding theology helps prevent us from being deceived by false teachings and distorted views of God.
It equips us to discern truth from error and to recognize divine principles that transcend culture and circumstances.
The more rooted we are in sound doctrine, the more we are able to apply God’s Word wisely in practical areas of life.
Our beliefs directly impact our behavior. Building on solid theological groundwork enables us to grow upward into maturity.
Pressing Onward and Upward
Reaching higher levels of spiritual growth requires consistency and perseverance.
We must make seeking God a daily priority, not just a Sunday routine.
Intimacy with Christ comes through regularly praying, studying the Bible, and practicing what we learn. As we walk closely with Jesus day by day, His Spirit transforms us increasingly into His likeness.
It’s important to recognize that the path to maturity has ups and downs. We won’t completely arrive until reaching heaven. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can keep progressing.
When we stumble and regress to childish ways, God will lovingly discipline us and get us back on track if we let Him. His goal is for us to develop the mind of Christ and walk as Jesus did.
Pressing onward requires godly friends and mentors to encourage us, confess sins, answer questions, and model mature faith.
Their wisdom and accountability push us to go deeper with Christ. We must humble ourselves to learn from those further along.
Spiritual growth is a community project. Together, we help one another become mature disciples led by the Holy Spirit.
Living Out Our Faith
The ultimate proof of spiritual maturity is how we live.
If we claim faith but our behavior remains unchanged, something is off.
As we grow in Christ, our values, priorities, words, and deeds will align more with God’s kingdom and righteousness. The Holy Spirit transforms us from within so that our external lives radiate Jesus.
Mature believers live with integrity. They bridle their tongue, control inappropriate desires, and treat people with Christlike love.
Spiritual adults are quick to forgive, slow to anger, and invested in serving others.
They make decisions prayerfully based on biblical principles. Times of hardship reveal the depth of their spiritual roots and trust in God’s sovereignty.
Our lives should match the gospel we profess. The process of becoming spiritually mature equips us to represent Jesus well to a watching world.
If you like these daily devotionals; you may be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos.
