". . . grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

Most of us can reflect back to a time during our childhood when a parent or person in authority admonished us to "grow up," perhaps in response to our shirking a responsibility or failing to take the initiative. It is typical for us to assume that we have grown up once we pass through the threshold of the early twenties. However, the Bible specifies no age where a person reaches spiritual maturity—it is a sad fact that Christians can live to an old age and remain a spiritual infant in the faith.

The Scriptures do not teach that we grow spiritually simply by logging birthdays, rather it is when we "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Peter 2:2). Just as a newborn babe grows physically by the nourishing milk from his mother, so does the newborn Christian grow spiritually by reading and obeying God's Word. Christian literature can certainly be beneficial, but spiritual maturity cannot occur apart from the Living Word of God.

We must understand that diligently studying, believing, and applying the Bible is the key to spiritual maturity. Too often Christians linger on a milk diet, being "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14), and never advance to "strong meat" (Hebrews 5:12), thus missing out on the rich blessings that flow from a passionate pursuit of God through His Word.

While we sojourn on this earth, we can never claim to have completely grown up spiritually. Our attitudes should instead be under-girded by a humble perseverance to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14), as we "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18). MDR