January 31 | Grow Up

Series | The God Kind of Life

Scripture | 1 Peter 2:2, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

Lesson 31 | Grow Up

Everyone loves babies because they are cute and adorable to look at and their smiles can melt anyone’s heart.  However, taking care of babies takes tons of hard work and dedication.  My wife has raised and nurtured all of our three children by feeding them, changing all their dirty diapers, and comforting them when they cry and for that she will forever be my hero (not to mention she birthed them all)!

My gifting as a father kicks in around the time they turn one.  I am then able to help them walk, talk, know right from wrong, and even teach them simple things like their ABC’s.  As a result my wife and I make a great team- she does most of the care when they are babies and I do much of the teachings and life lessons when their toddlers.  And by God’s grace I have helped all our children be walkers by one and potty trained by 2 years old! 

But imagine if when my kids turned one, I said to my wife, “Let’s not give them real food but rather keep them on the bottle until they are in the third grade.”  Or, “I don’t want to potty train Hannah until she is around 12 years old.”  If other parents found out about it they would probably call child services on me.  However, the same is true today in many churches, the leaders are not teaching the baby Christians to “grow up” in their salvation and be disciples, thus many people in the church who are in the 30’s and have been saved for years still need their dirty spiritual diapers changed everyday.

Therefore, make a decision today to grow up in your salvation by craving the Word of God.  First, crave the basics like milk then go to the deeper things like steak as your appetite grows so your spiritual life can be developed, Hebrews 6:1-2. 

Make a decision to never stay where you are, challenge yourself to do what Peter said later in 2 Peter 1:5-9,

5 …make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self- control; and to self- control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Reflection | Are you growing daily in your walk with God?

Action | (1) Decide once and for all that you wont stay a “baby Christian,” but rather will always be a “growing disciple.” (2) Grow daily in your salvation by adding to your faith- goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.  (3) Lastly, start today and grow up! 

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Exodus 12:14-13:16, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalm 25:16-22, & Proverbs 6:12-15. Click here to read online.