LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.
Psalm 131:1-3
It takes a man or woman to know when he or she is spiritually mature. It takes experience in life before one is equipped to be spiritually mature. David’s heart was at peace, trusting in the Lord. He wasn’t trying to get his own way in life. His hope was in the Lord, which was the secret to his success. This is why he was spiritually mature: he had progressed from the milk of repentance from dead works to serve the living God in spirit and in truth. He no longer needed the milk. He had graduated to the meat of the Word. A sign of spiritual maturity is that you are at peace in all areas of your life, knowing that the Lord is working all things for good to those that love Him. Another sign of maturity is that you have gone deeper in the truth of God’s love. You no longer hold grudges. You no longer talk badly about people behind their backs. You no longer habitually sin. You have stopped complaining when things don’t go your way. You have graduated to the deeper things of God.
And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 21:8
As we mature off the milk to the sincere truth of God’s Word we should celebrate those milestones, the same way Abraham made a great feast when Isaac was naturally weaned off the natural milk of his mother. God rejoices over us with singing when He sees us maturing in the things of Christ, the deeper teachings of loving God and others as ourselves. It pleases God greatly when we rejoice over the things that please Him: love, kindness, meekness, compassion, healing, praise, adoration and so on. A sign of spiritual maturity is that we have the mind of Christ and no longer entangle ourselves in the things of the world. Backbiting, strife, envy, debate, grudges, retaliation, hatred and such like have passed from our vocabulary. We no longer live like the world lives. This is spiritual maturity in the eyes of God. We should rejoice with our brethren when we see them progress in the kingdom of God. Why not have a great feast with them and celebrate their maturity in Christ?
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isaiah 28:9
God is not content to let people be spiritually immature. There is a time and season to be a baby in Christ, but God expects great things from those who begin the journey of walking in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. No longer should he play the immature games that children play. He should graduate to the deeper things of Christ and put away childish things. Loving mercy is another sign of spiritual maturity. Loving what God loves and hating what God hates. Detesting utterly the sinful things in life. When one does this, he or she knows they are progressing rapidly in the deep things of God.
Milk is easy to digest. We need to mature and challenge our digestive system with the meat of God’s Word. The main course is love. Not just superficial love, but DEEP LOVE. Learning to love is a progression, but we are made in the image of God and can handle it. Our spiritual digestion might lag behind at first, but once we embrace the deep things of God with our whole heart, mind and strength we will become spiritually acclimated to the things of Christ.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
By now we should be teachers of God’s Word, that is, instructors in righteousness, which is love. Love is what separates the spiritually immature from the spiritually mature. How greatly God rejoices over us when we progress to the deeper things of love in Christ. We must take this by faith. Someday soon we will graduate to heaven, if we overcome in this life. Love is how we graduate, love is how we grow, love is how we learn, love is how we please the Lord.
It is by exercising our senses that we grow deeper in righteousness. As we discern what pleases God and what does not please God, we are equipped to do great exploits for God and Christ. We are to progress. We are to take ground for the Lord. We are to win souls through the Word of love and mercy. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, for He has laid out the path of righteousness before our eyes. That path is found in Jesus and Him alone. Surrender your heart fully to Christ and watch what He will do. As we obey the Lord, He will grow us, He will watch over us, He will protect and guide us. Never will we lack a single good thing, for the Lord is gracious and abundant in His blessings to the obedient. Praise the Lord forever, amen. Here’s to your maturity in Christ!