Focus Scripture: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
I Corinthians 13:11
A child can be defined as a product of two parents. The offspring is a child for as long as input from its parents is necessary for its survival and maintenance. Using this definition it would seem as if human offspring remain in the state of childhood for a very long time for we all rely upon parents emotionally, financially or in other ways well into and beyond adult years in some instances. Paul, however, was not referring to the natural state of childhood but rather to the supernatural state of childhood.
There are three stages of growth that must be accomplished to achieve spiritual adulthood or maturity. Let us analyze the above scripture. Note that Paul explicitly orders the phases of Christian development in this passage of scripture. I Corinthians list the behaviors that correspond with being a child. The three stages are
1) speaking, 2) understanding, and 3) thinking.
To speak as a child is to speak as one whose vocabulary is limited. A child has not developed his own words and indeed repeats what he hears. New converts often times have not developed their own vocabulary or speech and are mimicking what they have heard others say about the capabilities of Jesus. But as we grow in our relationship with the Lord we develop our own words (testimony) by the trials that are tailor made for us. As we conquer trials our vocabulary should change to reflect the victories gained in our own lives.
Our ability to understand who our heavenly Father is increases as we yield more of ourselves to him. Childlike understanding is not enough to contend with the devil. Children really do not have the metal processes for understanding as they do for learning. Learning is regurgitated but understanding is comprehensive. We have to move from simply quoting facts about God to actually understanding who God is. One of the most powerful positions in our walk with Christ is understanding our Father and His will for our lives.
The last stage of development in Christian growth is to change the way that we think. A child cannot think for itself. But as spiritual adults we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds (the way that we think). The Bible says that we will be whatever we think that we are (Proverbs 23:7). The powers of our thoughts are so dynamic that they can change not only how we see ourselves but also how we see God in us (Romans 12:2). Changing the way that we think is probably one of the hardest things to do. We must work through wrong teachings, preconceived ideals, and past beliefs and behaviors to receive the newness of God.
The Lord wants us to become more powerful each day that we live for Him. We become more powerful as we grow and mature in the purpose of God.
Mia Montgomery