1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
The five stages of human growth are fetal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. When a child is conceived in a mother’s womb, even before the mother is aware of the existence of the fetus, the first stage of growth begins. Psalms 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. When we explore the mind boggling concept of conception of a baby, it makes us wonder that an atheist would need more faith to proclaim there is no God! Our needs and necessities would vary at different stages of life. An infant’s diet, desire and diapers need would be different to a toddler. A toddler will need more attention than an infant; as would a teenager from an adult. Our spiritual man also has these five stages of growth.
When we are born into the family of God, we are infants. No one is birthed as a teenager. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. A new born baby needs a lot of attention and constant care from the caretaker. Infants cry to get the attention of the mother. Similarly, when we are born into the family of God, the one skill we are born with is ‘the voice to praise’ that will get the attention of our Father in Heaven. Psalms 8:2 You have taught children and infants to give you praise. We are born into the spiritual family with the voice to praise.
A matured 30 year old man who is just born into the family of God is only a new born infant. Age doesn’t determine the spiritual maturity only our diet, desire and dependency would:
1. Diet: Hebrew 5:13 Anyone who has to drink milk is still a baby, without experience in applying the Word about righteousness. The diet of a new born ‘spiritual infant’ will also be only baby milk. They would only desire to hear blessings, promises and protection. Hard teaching that disciplines, corrects and rebukes will be solid food that spiritual infants will not digest. Check your diet. If we are only looking for promises, perks and pleasures we are still on infant formula.
2. Desire: The only desire of the infant would be to feed and nap. An infant that is fed well and has clean diapers will sleep well. Spiritual infancy is extremely important to our spiritual growth but we must not remain as infants. If our desire is only to received worldly comfort and care, we are still infants feeding on baby formula.
3. Dependant: Infants are dependent on the caretakers. If they need a pacifier, every time they cry and a pastor to placate when they are upset, they are still dependant infants. As we grow spiritually, our dependence shifts from people, pastors or prophets to Jesus the High Priest. While growing from infancy to childhood, people whom we are dependent on will be plucked out from our life. If our disposition is dependent on people we are still infants feeding on baby formula.
Our feeds, needs and moods will determine the stage of our growth. We are all born as infants but must be weaned out of baby formula to grow into mature ministers.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.
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