Growing Up Strong and Unshakable
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Ephesians 4:12–14 ESV Read More
When there are dark storm clouds off in the distance, my kids don’t see them very easily. We live in a neighborhood of old, tall houses and old, tall trees. The sun is shaded early in the evening and you can’t see much sky. That might add to their fear of storms. When the dark storm clouds arrive, they are right over us, like a whole fleet of the First Order Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace.
In the meantime, I’ve been looking at my weather app and I’ve known about those clouds for 3 days already. I arranged our activities 2 days ago, yesterday, and now today to prepare and make sure we had plenty of lawn mowing and outdoor playtime already for the 3 days of rain ahead. I made sure we went to the grocery already so we don’t have to carry in food in the rain. I see the beauty in the clouds, the depth, and texture, and I’m not really afraid.
This is what maturity brings. In the same way, God has given us the Holy Spirit and each other to teach, correct, inform, and help out. As we become spiritually mature, we grow up into the fullness of Christ and we aren’t as affected when the storms come. Sure, we are still affected, just like I still get wet when it rains, but I’m not scared — I’m prepared.
Being built up in the Lord and being a spiritual adult doesn’t come by being bounced around by every little new idea or fad that hits the Christian Facebook walls. It is solid and enduring. That is why reading the Bible, discussing songs and sermons, and praying together often is so important. Those things help us get a strong foundation of belief that will stand strong when something like “A Wrinkle in Time” or “The Matrix” comes out and makes everyone question reality.
Not panicking over a new teaching is a good sign of maturity. Like me when I see the yellow and red on the radar, I can stand strong because I saw it coming and I know it will pass. Let us urge one another on to grow in these ways. Let us strive to become mature Christians that aren’t upset over this or that wave of doctrine, but weather the storm and help others and ourselves remain faithful.
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