“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Hopefully, this isn’t true for you! Nonetheless, Paul’s words are sufficiently sobering that it’s worth spending some time in personal examination. Paul sets the clear expectation that Christians should grow and mature rapidly in the faith, just as a healthy newborn baby rapidly grows, changes, and matures physically and mentally. Very clearly, however, not all Christians do.
Some Christians stay “stuck” as infants in Christ. They may attend church regularly and may talk about Jesus often, but their mindset is still that of an unbeliever. Yes, they believe in Jesus, but their lives don’t look much different than when they were an unbeliever. They still hold onto sins from before Jesus set them free. They’re still more concerned with earthly matters of health, wealth, status, comfort, amusement, or power than about spiritual growth, sharing the Gospel, and blessing and serving others. Their priorities, attitudes, and assumptions reflect those of their earthly country more than their heavenly kingdom. They might as well be atheists for all the difference God makes in how they work, play, spend, save, vote, and live.
Does any of that describe you? Are you maturing in Christ or have you gotten stuck? Do you truly have a mindset like that of Jesus or is it still pretty much the pre-installed mindset of your country, culture, or neighbors? Do you share Christ’s priorities for your community or someone else’s? Are you deep in the meat of God’s Word and will for the world or are you still eager to take a bottle? #FollowJesus