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PROGRAM D-8056

Have you ever said to your teenager, “You’re acting like a two-year old!”? Or to your five-year old, “You’re acting like a baby!”? What mother hasn’t used that kind of shame tactic to try to get her child’s attention and correct their behavior! Our children don’t always act their age, do they?

Now, if that childish behavior is an occasional slip, we’re not too concerned. But if their behavior is continually childish—if they never really “act their age”—that becomes problematic, doesn’t it? Then we get a bit worried.

Of course, when our children behave as they should, up to an acceptable standard for their age, we congratulate them and call them “big girls” or “big boys,” right?

Do you think God ever looks down on us who are Christ-followers and says, “You’re not acting your age”? Are we becoming “big girls”—or boys—in Christ? Are we growing up in our faith? What does it take to grow up in Christ?

First, you have to be intentional about it. You must think about it, pray about it, and remind yourself continually that you need to act your age in Christ. Then you need to put some disciplines in place to make sure you are growing up in Christ.

Ephesians 4 has a lot to say about growing up in Christ. Paul begins by saying, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1). I often pray that God will make me worthy of my calling. This is another way of saying, “Lord, help me to act my age. Help me to put into practice what I know. Help me to become a “big girl” for Jesus.”

Paul goes on to list some of the signs of a mature Christian. He writes, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).

Let’s take an in depth look at these characteristics which are the measuring stick for our spiritual maturity.