When our children took their first steps, my wife and I could not have been happier if they had sat down at the piano and played a Beethoven sonata. Michele noted the event in a special journal that marked each child's major developmental milestones of their early years. Each journal celebrated the first step, the first word, their first tooth, and highlighted the day they got on the bus to attend their first day of school.
Like most parents, we felt a little anxious when others their age showed signs of growth ahead of schedule and eagerly waited until our children caught up with their friends. However, while we were proud of each new accomplishment, we were not surprised. We expected our children to grow and develop. In the natural realm, growth is normal.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. Normally, spiritual birth should lead to spiritual growth and development. Yet this is not always the case. Some who have professed faith in Jesus Christ appear to suffer from "stunted" growth. Years after their conversion they are still much the same as when they first believed. This is not a new problem. New Testament Christians struggled with it as well. The author of the book of Hebrews complained that at the time when his readers ought to have been able to teach others, they needed to be taught the "elementary truths of God's word all over again" (Hebrews 5:12). The writer's complaint sheds light both on the dynamics of spiritual growth and on some of the factors that contribute to spiritual immaturity.
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