When we speak of love, we are mostly talking about the way we treat other people. The reality of love is that Jesus said we are to love others as He has loved us. Until we begin to understand the totally unconditional love of the Father for us, we can't love in this very unconditional love for others. We still have a struggle with the carnal side of our old nature with our own walk. We often mistake being saved a long time as being mature Christians. The truth about our own maturity is found in 2 Peter 3:18 (Amplified) which says, "But grow in grace ( undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah) to Him (be glory, majesty and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity, Amen (so be it)."
Until we come to the knowledge and understanding of Him, we really have no idea how to love one another. This love is the true sign of maturity in Christianity. What we usually call love is tolerance of one another. We tolerate one another as long as we agree with one another. The differences in our own denominations prove this to be true. We have come to the same faith as far as our new birth is concerned, but we differ from there on out. Our love for each other is measured by how we understand His love for us.
Spiritual growth comes in four stages with stage 1 being the infant or baby stage. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) says that "However brethren, I could not talk to you as spiritual (men) but as to non-spiritual men of the flesh; in whom the carnal nature predominates as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet)." Verse 2 continues, "I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it), Verse 3 "for you are still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses) for as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
Also, in 1 Peter 2:1-2 (Amplified) we read, "So be done with every trace of unwickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind." Verse 2 says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst after, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow into (complete) salvation."
A baby thinks only of itself and if denied the things it desires, it will throw a tantrum. It seeks it's own. It's feelings are easily hurt and it's so often jealous. A baby lives to be served. It drinks milk and cannot eat strong meat. It cries, but never sings. It tries to talk, but never makes much sense. Like many Christians who have failed to grow, they are babies, carnal Christians.
The little child stage is next. We read in 1 John 2:12 (Amplified)
I am writing to you little children, because for His name's sake your sins are forgiven (pardoned through His name and on account of confessing His name)."
Some Christians grow to be little children and stop there. They are oftentimes untruthful, envious and cruel. If spanked, then they are martyred. If crossed, then they're resentful and make a scene. They are tale bearers who repeat everything they hear (gossip). They're often given to emotional outbursts and are easily puffed up. They love praise and will accept if from any source. They seek only the things that appeal to self.
This seems to be the most prevalent kind of Christian today. We seem to be walking in an adolescent stage and not maturity. We as "teenagers" feel like we're grown up, but we're still not ready to be adults. We feel like we no longer need (or want) advice or counsel, but already know all we need to know. We wish to be treated as adults, but still be supported by our parents. We want to make our own decisions, but don't want to be responsible for the results of those decisions.
Like teenagers, they have the body of an adult, but are not yet mature enough for the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood.
As in the day of Joshua, the land truly is flowing with milk and honey, but you still have to conquer the land. When we speak of healing, power, ability, prosperity, authority and the strength of the Spirit, it sounds so good to the teenage Christian until they find out that there are giants in the land (just like in Joshua's day).
When we grow in the understanding of the love the Father has for us, we become bold enough to take the giants and take the land. But, we must be sure of the promise by being sure of His love.
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