“I was back in the letter to the Hebrews this morning,” Stan began, “and I saw that the writer wrote about me and the aging process.”
“You and the aging process?” I responded. “In what way?”
“While it is not put this way exactly,” Stan replied, “the essential focus of what is written is the difference between just getting older and becoming more spiritually mature.”
Continuing, he said, “Getting older happens as long as God keeps me on this side of eternity. All I have to do is to wake up each morning.”
“Spiritual maturity, on the other hand, is a choice. Just because I wake up in the morning doesn’t mean I am more mature in my walk with God than I was yesterday.”
“How did the writer of the letter put it?” I asked.
He put it in terms of those who have a young or immature relationship with God through Christ, versus those with a more mature relationship.”
Continuing, he said, “The young or immature just drink the milk of the basics of Christianity, rather than moving on as more mature Christians who feed on the solid food of the truth of what God has for each one.”
“When I was a babe in Christ as a new believer,” Stan added, “I was content to feed on the basics of my new life in Christ.”
“However,” he continued, “there came a point where I had to make a choice of either continuing in a milk-based relationship of immaturity or deciding it was time to start eating the more solid food that God had for me in order to grow more mature in my relationship with Him.”
“And,” he added, “this is a constant choice for me. If I ever get to the point of thinking I am mature spiritually, and there is no more room for me to mature, I have started going in the wrong direction. Time to stop and turn around.”
“Time for repentance,” I replied.
“Absolutely right, my friend,” Stan replied. “Time for me to turn around and continue on the road of transformation towards greater spiritual maturity.”
“There is never a question of whether I am getting older. All I have to do is look at the calendar or in the mirror. But I need to look more closely to see if I am getting more spiritually mature. At one point in my life, I looked and I chose to proceed towards greater spiritual maturity. And each day I need to look and address the same question.”
“The answer I get from looking,” Stan concluded, “and the decision I make about what I see, determines whether I am going to be more spiritually mature or just older.”
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For every one who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 4:13, 14.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you have all I need for a more mature walk with you. Thank you, too, that you want me to be more mature in every aspect of my relationship with you. I confess that way too often I choose the complacency of just getting older rather than choosing to be in a more mature relationship with you. Please forgive me. And please help me in following your lead into an ever-deepening relationship with you based on greater spiritual maturity in every aspect of my being. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 