Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV
Then we will no longer be infants . . . instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him, who is the Head, that is Christ.
Children don’t behave like adults! They have so much to learn when they are very young. It is only little by little that they grow in understanding and behaviour and develop their character and potential in God. Everyone is so happy to see the children grow up like this to maturity. That was God’s desire and intention from the beginning.
But if a person should remain a child, way beyond the years of childhood, it would be obvious to everyone that something was seriously wrong. How sad it is that so many people in the Body of Christ do remain like children in matters of faith and doctrine and living the Christian life, but hardly anyone seems to notice!
It is vital that those who are the Pastors (shepherds of the sheep), should be encouraged to speak the truth in love to people, so that they will take up their responsibility to grow up in Christ, teaching them how to grow to maturity as believers and disciples of Jesus. For if they don’t, the witness of the Body of Christ to the society in which we live will always be weak and less effective than God intended.
Each and everyone of us is an evangelist to our friends, neighbours and family. It’s so important that our witness to them, should be one of Christian maturity and love. Jesus called us to follow Him and that also means being an agent for the King as we represent His Kingdom on Planet Earth!
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to recognise those areas of my Christian life where I have not grown to maturity, so that I can grow up and be more effective witness for the Kingdom of God in the community in which I live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
