1 Cor. 13:11 (KJV)
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
According to this verse, what is our spiritual imperfection like? The
Bible likens it to childishness. There is an apparent difference between
children and adults - at least there should be! How do adults and children
act and reason differently? As this verse points out, there are three
different areas in our lives where childishness shows up: the way we speak,
our ability to understand things, and the way we think. Are you struggling
in either of these areas, dear lady? Could it be that even though you've
been saved for quite some time, you are often preoccupied with immature
pursuits, still engaged in childlike behavior?
Galatians 4:3 (KJV)
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements
of the world:
It's perfectly natural for children to yearn to play with toys; we expect
that of them. But there comes a time when that desire ought to disappear,
amen? As they mature, we expect children to lose their interest in the
toys that captured their attention when younger. Mother, if your teenage
son or daughter still liked playing with a rattle or sucking their thumb,
wouldn't you be more than a little worried?? So too, God expects His children
to mature; to start speaking, understanding, and thinking like a grown-up
Christian. You see ladies; our salvation is not the ending, but the beginning
point of our life in Christ! After we are born-again, we must grow and
we must lay aside "childish things"...
1 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and
envies, and all evil speakings...
Have you left off all the manners and habits of childhood? Can you honestly
say you have weaned yourself from these childish types of behavior listed
above? If not, your conduct is that of an undeveloped Christian! You are
operating with limited understanding; you are thinking like a kid; you
are speaking baby-talk! It's time to pick up the tools of the mature believer.
Yes, weaning is a difficult stage of maturing. A child being weaned probably
feels like everything is against him, but every mother knows that is simply
not true! From an adult perspective, we understand that weaning will provide
the baby more liberty. Though no infant enjoys being weaned, he can never
become a man until it happens! Temporary helps become permanent hindrances...
There are no shortcuts. If you don't surrender to the maturing process,
you will only become more juvenile!
Proverbs 22:15 (KJV)
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction
shall drive it far from him.
What is the real condition of your heart today, dear lady? Do you have
the heart of a child in an adult body? Is your understanding framed by
foolish concepts? Is your speech permeated with foolish subjects and terminology?
Are your thoughts absorbed with silly notions? Foolishness is being weak
in intellect. Do you lack wisdom and good judgment as a Christian in general?
If so, you've got some growing up to do! You leave God no choice but to
correct you, to bring trials and tribulations into your life to compel
you to stop the games and pick up the tools of maturity. As a child, you
may interpret such treatment as rejection or view it as unloving, or pout
and think it unfair, not recognizing the true value in your difficulties.
However, your heavenly Father will encourage you to grow and enter into
the challenges of the future, rather than reside in the comforts of the
past.
1 Cor. 14:20 (KJV)
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children,
but in understanding be men.
As we mature in our understanding and behavior, our concerns will be less
in the arena of self, and more in the arena of service. We will voluntarily
put away our toys without being asked because of love - love for God and
love for man. How has your demonstration of love been of late? Is it full
proof of your maturity or confirmation of your immaturity? For example,
the childish attitude of envy, when tempered by love, turns into a desire
to promote others rather than compete with them. Malice, as mentioned
above, is extreme ill will toward an individual, however, when controlled
by God, it is put away in exchange for a sincere desire to help and pray
for others rather than hurt them or see them destroyed. In growing up,
we are able to bear the imperfection of others. Ladies, the Lord does
not want immaturity to saturate all we do, He wants our words and actions
to be established in love and maturity!
Proverbs 10:12 9 (KJV)
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Here again, the contrast is clearly seen between childish conduct and
mature conduct, set apart by a tiny little colon. As a matter of fact,
it is very similar to our opening verse, where that same little colon
once more divides two behaviors…
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
The question is, which side of that colon do you fit best on - the childlike
side or the grown-up side?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
