About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14
Recently came back from visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The family is currently training our granddaughter how to use the toilet. She is two-and-half years old and plans to start attending nursery school in the fall. But, she needs to be potty trained before acceptance.
This weekend, she was at the stage of being aware of the need. Yet lacked the willpower to stop what she was doing to take care of business. So, the adults in the room would always check-in with her whenever she began to twitch. At first she would ignore the reminder and continue her play. Other times, she would agree and rush to the bathroom.
It is a process we all had to learn. Some of us quickly pick it up. Others take longer. The same can be said about our walk with Jesus.
Initially, we hear the good news. We begin to investigate. We read material from third-party sources. Then we begin to read the Bible ourselves. Like other material we read and master, we begin to practice its teachings. But somewhere we hit the spiritual wall. Our lives are still a mesh. We become frustrated with our growth. We become tired of pushing ourselves away from the temptations. We become confused through all the various influencers on social media. In some ways, it’s like being potty trained. We know the importance of the toilet, but are too busy with what we are doing to stop. We don’t grasp the importance of the moment. We again miss the mark. Sin spoils our life again.
Discipleship involves training the willpower to do good at all times. To recognize evil and have the wisdom and maturity to overcome it. In many ways, it is like being potty trained. When the moment arises, one can do nothing and experience the messy consequence. Or one can find the toilet and manage the discharge quick and efficiently. The same is true in our Christian journey.
We begin with attaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. But failure to execute what we know doesn’t complete the task. We are instructed to renew our minds. To transform our thinking under the governance of God’s Kingdom. But it also requires help from the adults in the room. Church elders who are working along with the Holy Spirit to nudge you toward maturity. To assist you to become the person God has wired you to be in Christ.
Yes, one may say the maturity process begins when one is potty trained.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned…For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:4-12
Your salvation is a gift from God through the work of Jesus Christ. But what you do with that gift determines your destiny.
The gospel written by John emphasized a deep abiding relationship with Jesus is the doorway to life. As we walk with HIM, imitate HIM, learn from HIM, we become one with HIM. We begin to see the world through HIS eyes. As we grow and mature in the faith, HE bestows more and more of HIS riches upon us. The more blessings HE pours upon us, the more we can bless others with the same. HE is the source of life and purpose in everything we do worth our time and effort.
While as children, we depend on our parents for food, clothing, and shelter. We watch and learn from them how to cope with life. As we grow and seek out our independence, we slowly mature. Responsibility is given to us. As we fulfill our obligations, we gain confidence in our abilities to perform. We then take on more roles which impact the lives of others. Others begin to trust us. We learn to accept the responsibility of being held accountable for results.
Give a person no responsibility, and they will behave like a baby for their entire life. Give a person more responsibility holding them accountable, and they will grow in character. They will also be seen favorably in the eyes of others. People whose walk agrees with their talk are highly in demand. They are mature in their actions. Their service for others is noticed and praised. They don’t need to be told what to do. They are aware of the needs and concerns of those around them. They accept their strengths and shortcomings. Their confidence and assurance lead them to take action whenever necessary.
When a child of God takes up their cross, they are accepting the responsibility of trusting Jesus. As they learn to trust HIM in small ways, their faith grows. As they practice self-denial to follow HIM, they learn HIS Spirit is alive and active in their heart and mind. As trials and tests are thrust upon them, they lean on HIM to walk through the mess. They grow. They mature. They become more like HIM.
Some of us are wired to carry more responsibility than others. Some of us need less responsibility to grow. But we all need to be responsible for the gift given to us. Life is precious. Much prayer is required to keep tuned with the ONE who is maturing us unto eternity. Accept the responsibility of your calling and witness how HE shapes your life. Your destiny awaits you.
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn’t touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way. Hebrews 10:32-39 (MSG)
What first time experience do you most often recall? Is it: The first time you had a crush on a person? Your first romantic kiss? Your first time away from home?
The first time you bought a car? Your wedding? Your divorce? The birth of your child?
The first time you saw death? The death of a family member? A friend? The ugliness of surviving a war zone?
There are many first in all our lives. Some bring a smile to our face. Others make our heart heavy. Yet all are experiences that have molded and shaped us into the person we are today. For most of us, the first time is a learning experience. It usually ends in failure. No musician plays their instrument perfectly the first time. It takes repeated practice to perfect one’s play. Most professionals recall the struggle and failures of those early years. In hindsight, they can laugh at their ignorance of the first time. The pain, the setbacks, and the emotional roller-coaster rides is the price of admission. It made them into the person they are today. Some would rather forget those days. Others keep those thoughts in their memory. It keeps them humble and grateful for today.
Some people seek out a new first experience every day. They consider it an adventure. Others like to sit back and repeat the same experience over and over again. That is the makeup of our character and personality. We all choose the ways and methods which produce those dopamine hits.
Our walk with God in many ways is included in those first-time experiences.
The first time we became aware of a possibility of a God. The first time we experienced an invisible hand intervening in our life. The first time we met others who were seeking to know more about HIM. The first time we broke in totally surrender to HIM. The first time we experienced a miraculous answer to prayer. The first time we recognized HIS presence in our inner being. The first time we became aware of HIS involvement in leading us through life’s jungles. The first time our mental capacity tilted over the edge due to HIS creation. The first time we experienced peace and joy through severe trials of life. The first time our pain and suffering found comfort in HIM.
Yes, there are many first-time experiences we can recall. But there is one first time experience I still await. I long to hug Jesus and thank HIM for all HE has done and is doing for you and me.
What is the next first-time experience you long for?
Radical In Christ 