We looked at a passage on Sunday where Paul was talking to the church of Corinth about being a father to them. He had a great love for this church like he would his own children. I want to expound on this book a little more as you ponder the Words of God.
Now you would expect a five year old to act like a five year old. But when grown adults act like a five year old, that is a different story. Spiritually speaking, it is the same. Babes in Christ will act differently than those who have been in the faith longer. The book of Corinthians challenges Christians to act their own age. With that being said, let’s look a little closer to see what advice the Apostle Paul gives.
Paul is careful to say he’s not trying to shame the Corinthians (4:14), but he does want them to stop thinking like children (14:20). The only time he gives them permission to act like infants is concerning evil. Being innocent to the world is still a good quality to have. Paul says in I Corinthians 13:11, “When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”
Unfortunately the Corinthians had not matured as they should have. Their church was marked by divisions, immorality, lawsuits, even drunkenness at the Lord’s Supper (11:20-21). In 1 Corinthians 3 he says, “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you were still not ready.”
It’s easy to see when others are immature in their faith. But in what ways are you stronger spiritually than you were a year or two ago? How are you and the circle of friends you spend time with moving forward in your relationship with God? Revival occurs when stunted growth is corrected and people move once again in their Christian lives.
I want to challenge you to take a look at areas that may have be neglected or taken for granted. Let God speak to your heart right now and show you the most excellent way to go.
God wants to grow you up in Him this summer as you seek Him with all your heart.
Joy in Jesus!
Pastor Mike
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