Still living on milk?

John Rosemond, a family psychologist who writes a national column on parenting, says that parents are failing in the major job of creating self-sufficient adults. "Forty years ago, the typcial young adult was fully emancipated (on his own!) by age 20. Today it is 25. Delayed adulthood does not bode well for children, parents, families, schools, American business and industry, the economy, defense, or the culture." He tells about parents who call their childrens' college professors, as though they were still high school. He tells of college grads who are invited back to live with their parents because these perpetual children are unwilling or unable to keep a job. They won't accept responsibility to show up on time, work hard, and respect authority. They bring an entitlement ethic with them that insists that being asked to do anything unpleasant is unfair.

Spiritually speaking, are those characteristics applicable to your life? In Hebrews 5, the writer laments the immaturity of the Believers he was attempting to instruct. He says, "There is so much more we would like to say about this. But you don’t seem to listen, so it’s hard to make you understand. You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right." (Hebrews 5:11-16, NLT)

Some Believers never get past the repentance stage! They live where they found Christ, in perpetual repentance, in a cycle of being 'sinful and sorry, forgiven and relieved, and back again.' A silly bumper sticker sentiment is a 'life truth' for these perpetual infants. It reads - "I'm not perfect, just forgiven!" In other words they are saying, "Don't expect me to grow out of my self-indulgence that allows me to keep doing the same wrong things, throwing the same fits, and being selfish. I don't have to become mature because Jesus forgives me." Yes, He does forgive us our sins, but He also wants us to grow into a mature life that is marked by a transformation of character, by a steadiness of commitment, and by an unshakeable faith. Many assume that because no one can ever become perfect (that is true!) that we don't even have to grow (that is wrong!). My grandson, Gavin, at age 3, is long way from perfectly mature. When he gets tired, he whines, gets stubborn, and becomes increasinly disobedient. His Dad and Mom tolerate some of this behavior because the child is only 3, but they also set boundaries for Gavin that will help him to learn that the world does not revolve around his moods. Over the next 13 to 15 years, they will teach this child to manage his emotions, increasing their expectations for him to accept responsibilty for his actions. They would be foolish, indeed, to just excuse all of his tantrums saying, "he's just a baby." Because of their consistent discipline and his growth, I observed a measurable difference in Gavin's behavior in just 6 months time.

Believer, are you able to apply the Scripture's truth to your life in a way that leads you to life in a God-honoring way? Are you developing the spiritual maturity that lets you choose to reject temptation because you have a greater goal than just 'being happy in the moment?' Or are you still living by your whims and constantly saying, "Sorry, Lord, I just did it again"? There are tremendous opportunities available for mature Believers who are ready to use the spiritual gifts God has invested in them. For those who will show up to serve, who will overcome the desire to just drift along, there is joy in serving and making a difference in the world. When we stop making excuses for our failures and get serious with God about growing up spiritually, He gives us all the resources we need to live in a way that is godly and good! We still fail, but less often over time, as we mature in discernment. No, He doesn't clean up all of our messes. He doesn't do all the work for us. He doesn't let us pass off a 'half job' with a phony affirmation - "that's wonderful." He says, "train yourselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right."

Here's a promise to tak with you today. Ask the Spirit to help you to grow. Remember, the key is steady progress, not fits and starts every now and then. Here is God's promise to make our maturity, not only possible, but inevitable as we desire Him and His Spiritual Presence.

"As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life.

Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11, NLT)