Growing Up Spiritually

Embracing Maturity in Faith

I was having a little chat with my three-week-old son the other day. I asked him how life was treating him, and to my surprise, he “responded” with a contented gurgle, as if saying, “Life’s great, Dad! I get to sleep whenever I want, and someone else handles all the bathing and feeding. Why would I want to grow up and take on more responsibilities?” He had a point, but I gently told him that staying a baby forever isn’t an option. Growing up, while challenging, is an adventure filled with new experiences and growth.

Just like my son’s reluctance to leave behind the comfort of infancy, we as Christians often shy away from spiritual growth. The Bible is packed with promises about the blessings of maturing in our faith and drawing closer to God. But how do we respond to these promises? Often, there’s a little voice inside us that echoes Eve’s doubts in the garden, whispering, “I could never experience that.” This is a ploy from Satan to make us doubt God’s intentions for us. But God wants us to grow spiritually, moving from milk to solid food in our faith journey.

When the Bible talks about spiritual maturity, it uses terms like “being built up,” “established,” “maturity,” and “growing.” These words paint a picture of stability and depth in our spiritual lives. If this is what God desires for us, we shouldn’t settle for staying spiritually immature. In 2 Peter 1, we find a roadmap for this growth. Verses 3-4 tell us that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. This means we already have access to the power we need to live godly lives, drawing strength from Christ rather than relying on ourselves.

Believing in Christ means not putting our trust in anything else as a source of life. It’s about acknowledging our dependence on His divine power. Are we leaning on Christ or trying to manage on our own? Our prayer life often reveals our true source of strength. If we pray regularly and make time for devotions, it shows we recognize our need for God. It’s like saying, “Lord, I need You” as our first resort, not our last.

Peter’s list of character traits in verses 5-7 reminds us that the Christian life requires effort. Traits like goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love don’t come naturally. They are against our inherent nature. Spiritual maturity takes hard work and dedication, and God shapes our character as we follow Him day by day. Jesus warned us that the road to life is narrow and difficult, but the rewards of perseverance are eternal.

Peter goes on in verses 8-9 to explain that possessing these qualities in increasing measure keeps us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of Christ. When we stop seeking God’s perspective and start following worldly ways, we become spiritually blind. Our focus must continually return to God’s values and perspectives, ensuring that our spiritual growth is ongoing.

Finally, verses 10-11 encourage us to be diligent in making our calling and election sure. This diligence keeps us from falling and promises a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom. Striving to fulfill God’s purposes means immersing ourselves in His word and engaging with fellow believers who challenge and support us. As Jesus said in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.” Are we hungering to grow in Christ and to be mature in our faith?

Let’s commit to growing, relying on God’s strength and guidance every step of the way.

Dennis Williams

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