Oct 21 – THE CHILD AND THE MAN!

“….but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11).
There are a lot of differences between childhood behaviour and adult behaviour. You might have been involved in childish activities, when you were a child. Those things might have been happy ones for the eyes of the world. But if that childish behaviour is continued even after becoming an adult, the world will not accept it.
Paul the Apostle writes, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (I Corinthians 13:11).
It is common for children to fall every now and then when they begin to walk. The scenes of children trying to walk with a baby walker and children trying to walk holding the wall with their hands are pleasing to the eyes. But, if adults keep falling down while walking, it will gain the sympathy of the onlookers. In the same way, you might have experienced falls at the beginning of your spiritual life. But, if you fall often even after getting matured in the Spiritual life, will this not sadden God?
When you are a child, you can talk like a child. But when you become an adult, it is imminent that you should speak with sense of responsibility, dignity and honour.
The Scripture says, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14).
Are you still thinking like a child even after remaining as a Christian for several years? Do you know what the thinking of a child would mostly be in? The child will be anxiously waiting for its father to return with eagerness to know what he will bring to eat. The Child is not aware of important factors like the assets with its father, his status, the inheritances with him and his greatness.
In the same way, many people are fully focussed on the worldly benefits of the present, without realising how great and glorious the spiritual blessings and gifts God has for them. They are also not aware of the heavenly inheritances but focussed only upon the benefits of the present. Dear children of God, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
To meditate: “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).