I remember one of the things my father used to say to me to me as a teenager when it seemed as if I was not pulling my weight in school or around the house. After discussing where I was not meeting his expectation he would simply say it’s time to grow up. None of us are born with the ability to handle all that life may throw at us. As infants we are not even able to feed our self much less take care of others. As we grow older we mature and become more capable mentally and physically until when we are “gown up as my Father used to say we are able to care for others as well as ourselves. This progression from infancy to maturity is true of our spiritual life as well. In Hebrews the author talks clearly about our need as Christians to grow up, as my father would say and begin to take responsibility.

The author says;
About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food; for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

There are two markers of Christian maturity in this text, the first is a person’s willingness to care for and disciple others in the faith. His specific example is that we ought to be teachers of the faith. This is just one example among many to adequately practice our faith we need many gifts, teachers preachers evangelists, pastors, there are whole lists of these roles, gifts of the Spirit that are needed in every church. These are the things that enable us to do God’s will as a people of God. In Hebrews we are told in a way as simple as my father’s words… it is time for some of us to grow up and play our part.

There is more to it than that though, the second marker is to train ourselves to distinguish good from evil, to tell God’s path from all of the alternatives, paths that often seem quite positive when we first approach them. One of the keys we are given to help us discern this pathway is Love. Jesus says; I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

This is always a distinguishing characteristic or a true disciple of Jesus. For without this love there is no real purpose to anything else we might do. Another key to use to discern God’s path is simply the Good News God is gracious and loving, and though at times his path may be difficult it is always life giving and filled with grace and forgiveness. Our pathway as a people of God must reflect this as well.

We learn these things by immersing ourselves in the word of God, not just worship but study. We learn them by imitation others in our fellowship who are mature in Christ by following Christ, who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Finally we have been given a task, and anything, no matter how good it might seem that distracts us from this task is not on the pathway we seek. This task is best understood in the Great Commission; Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18

Growing up is difficult, but we all have to do it if we are truly going to be the people God Created us to be.

Pastor Jim Bliss
June 2008