Playing Grown Up

By Cheri Cowell –

I can remember laughter-filled summer days playing “grown-up” with my sister under a tree in the front yard or in a make believe schoolhouse in our bedroom. With just a sheet or a cardboard box we would turn any cozy spot into an imaginary scene of what we thought our world would be like as adults. In our game we would take turns being the grown-up, which of course was the prized role in our drama. Sometimes the interpretation of that role would cause arguments that our mother needed to referee. All of us have played some form of this childhood game whether it was dress-up, cowboys and Indians, or tea party with our stuffed animals as guests. Still, many of us know adults who have never grown up. If we have to admit it, sometimes our own behavior would not qualify as very grown up. So how do we know when we have reached the goal of finally growing up? The writer of Hebrews has a few suggestions.

The Jewish Christians were beginning to question whether following Christ was worth the persecution they were receiving. The writer of Hebrews answered their questions by defining maturity. He told them that mature Christians eat the solid food of the Word of God, not just the baby milk or easy stuff. He challenged the Jews who were looking for an easier way, one with fewer restraints, to continue to taste of the Holy Spirit and trained them through repetition to distinguish good from evil. You and I are maturing if we are going beyond the easy Scriptures to the ones that make us squirm, ponder, and grow.

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV).

PRAYER: God, help me become a more mature Christian, able to eat the meat and potatoes of Your Word. I am hungry for the solid food and am willing to hear the things that may be difficult but will allow me to grow up in You.