Spiritual Growth (2)

‘When we grew up, we quit our childish ways.’ 1 Corinthians 13:11 CEV

People with strong faith can make you feel ‘less than’, when you compare yourself to them. We can so admire people of faith who testify to amazing changes in their lives—and exude confidence and stability in their relationship with God—that we feel inadequate in comparison.

In our heart of hearts, many of us wonder if God doles out His favor according to a merit system. Big tick or gold star for perfect obedience, big strike-out for anything less. But, truth is, faith is a growing thing. It doesn’t burst into life, fully mature, instantly perfect.

Do you feel that way, as if there is something wrong with you because you never seem to measure up? If so, read this:

‘When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways.’
You start as a spiritual infant, then you become a spiritual child, then you become a spiritual adolescent, and eventually you become a spiritual adult. But you never ‘arrive’.

And quick-fix, do-it-yourself righteousness will just make you try to impress others with a false sense of holiness. It will stop you from being honest before God and make you think you should be farther along than you are for your spiritual age.

Do you remember when you were a child and you dressed up in your mum’s high heels or your dad’s work boots? No matter how much you wanted to fit into them, you couldn’t. That didn’t mean there was something wrong with you; it just meant you were exactly where you should have been for your age.