RIPEN FASTER
Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.
Ephesians 4:12-14: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up,
“until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men of men in their deceitful scheming.”
“Gimme patience!” ten-year-old Danny screamed. “I want patience right now!” His stomping feet proved his point.
His twin brother Benjy laughed out loud. He said, “While you’re at it, get me some!”
We can giggle at Danny’s demanding the oxymoron of contradictions. Patience [PA-shenz] means calm waiting. Wanting patience immediately won’t happen. Spiritually speaking, the boys are infants, like we were once. Growing up is a process—a developing progression of learning one lesson beyond the previous one. Eventually, (if we don’t give up), we ripen into mature adults. Along that journey, people may or may not learn patience. Not everyone develops into wise, responsible and reliable adults.
The weird thing is that people are way different from one another.
That’s why our Father gave us “free will”. That’s also why He created us in His image (Genesis 1:27). He wants each person to grow into whatever we choose to become. Kids hear new ideas and don’t know enough to toss out silly, misguided ones. That’s why those who constantly change their minds when hearing something new look as though they’re being tossed back and forth by waves, as Apostle Paul warns in the opening Scripture.
See the lesson linked below for how Paul wants Christians to ripen, or grow with “the whole measure of the fullness of God.”
Salvation—believing in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life—is immediate, Danny. What takes time is Christlikeness. Our Father equips each with everything necessary to grow into spiritually-ripe people. Spiritual maturity is possible for everyone who wants it. But, that’s a lifelong journey. We can measure our spiritual growth by seeing the world more from God’s point-of-view than from our human (flesh) eyes.
Or throwing temper tantrums less!
Take Home Nugget
Danny, rate X time = distance. In other words, the faster you grow spiritually, the quicker you’ll achieve patience (plus many other grown-up qualities learned on the spiritual journey).
Holy Father, I want Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” journey. Enable me—in Jesus’ name—to see life from Your spiritual eyes. Amen.
Adapted from “Maturity is a Process” by Dr. Tony Evans. April 30, 2018. See “Alternative” at www.LightSource.com
J.D. Griffith
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