How often have parents told their children to grow up? It is interesting that physical growth happens without us being aware of it, until one day we see the results in a child that has grown physically. At the same time, emotional, mental and societal growth does not happen in the way we sometimes expect, and as parents we tell our children to “Grow Up.” Adolescents often have moments when they wish to be children again, loved and nurtured in their parent’s arms; two minutes later they resent being told what to do and fight for independence. Parents struggle with this “Jekyll and Hyde” behavior, and are often at a loss as to what to do. So, they tell their teens to “grow up,” failing to realize that they soon will.

Could it be that the same thing happens in the church? We become Christians by being born again (John 3:3,5). At that time we are “babes in Christ” (1 Peter 2:2-3) and grow by partaking of the sincere milk of the word. Yet, Christians CANNOT remain babes in Christ. They must grow! The Hebrew writer condemned those in Hebrews 5:12-14 because they should have been teachers, but they needed someone to teach them AGAIN the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. One of the problems that the church in Corinth had was the fact that they did not grow, and it was so painfully obvious in the fact that they were dividing among themselves, instead of endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Ephesians 4:13). Perhaps, in the way Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians, he was telling them to “GROW UP.”

Our Heavenly Father has made it clear as he can that he expects his children to grow up. Look at the following verses and see if this isn’t what our Father is saying:

2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. NKJV

Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. NKJV

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, NKJV

Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. NKJV

I don’t know about you, but I think our Heavenly Father has made it clear that he wants us to grow up! Let me challenge you to make that your goal this year!