Growing up isn't just about getting older or taller. The Bible teaches that real growth happens when we become more like Jesus. This includes how we think, act, and treat others. God wants us to mature both as people and in our faith. These verses show us what it means to truly grow up in the eyes of God.
Growing in Faith and Knowledge
The Bible tells us that growing up means learning more about God and becoming stronger in our faith. Just like we go to school to learn new things, we need to keep learning about God throughout our lives.
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
— 2 Peter 3:18
Peter encourages us to keep growing in two important ways: in grace (God's love and kindness toward us) and in knowledge (learning more about Jesus). This verse reminds us that growing up in faith is a lifelong journey, not something that stops when we become adults.
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."
— 1 Peter 2:2-3
Just as babies need milk to grow physically, new believers need God's Word to grow spiritually. Peter says we should want to learn from the Bible as much as a hungry baby wants milk. This helps us become mature Christians who understand God better.
Leaving Childish Ways Behind
Part of growing up means putting away immature behaviors and thinking. The Bible challenges us to act more mature as we grow in our relationship with God.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me."
— 1 Corinthians 13:11
Paul explains that growing up means changing how we think and act. This doesn't mean we can't have fun or be joyful. It means we take responsibility for our actions and think about how our choices affect others. We move from being self-centered to caring about what God wants.
What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like?
Spiritual maturity isn't about how long you've been a Christian or how much of the Bible you've memorized. It's about becoming more like Jesus in your everyday life. This means showing love to difficult people, being patient when things go wrong, and choosing what's right even when it's hard.
Mature Christians don't stop making mistakes, but they learn from them. They keep growing, keep asking questions, and keep trying to follow Jesus better each day.
Moving from Milk to Solid Food
The Bible uses the idea of food to talk about spiritual growth. New believers start with simple teachings (milk), but as they grow, they should be ready for deeper understanding (solid food).
"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
— Hebrews 5:12-14
The writer of Hebrews challenges believers who aren't growing up spiritually. After knowing Jesus for a while, we should be able to help teach others and understand deeper truths about God. Being stuck at the beginning level means we're not growing like we should. Mature believers can tell the difference between right and wrong because they've practiced following God's ways.
Growing to Be Like Jesus
The goal of growing up as a Christian is to become more and more like Jesus. This is what God wants for every believer.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
— Ephesians 4:15-16
Paul tells us that as we grow up spiritually, we should become more like Jesus in every way. This happens when Christians work together, speak truth with love, and each person does their part. We don't grow up in our faith alone—we need other believers to help us mature.
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
— Ephesians 4:11-13
God gives the church leaders and teachers to help us grow up spiritually. Their job is to equip us and train us so we can serve God and others well. The goal is for all believers to mature together and become like Jesus.
Wisdom from Proverbs About Growing Up
The book of Proverbs has practical advice about what it means to grow up and gain wisdom. Real maturity includes learning from others and making good choices.
"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."
— Proverbs 1:8-9
Growing up wisely means listening to the people who care about you, especially your parents or guardians. Their experience can help you avoid mistakes and make better decisions. Accepting good advice is a sign of maturity.
"The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice."
— Proverbs 12:15
Immature people think they know everything already. Mature people know they still have things to learn. Being willing to listen to advice and admit when you're wrong is an important part of growing up.
Training and Discipline in Growing Up
Just like athletes train to get better at their sport, growing up spiritually requires practice and discipline. God uses challenges and correction to help us mature.
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."
— Proverbs 22:6
This verse shows how important it is to learn good habits and values when you're young. The lessons we learn and the character we develop while growing up stay with us for our whole lives. That's why it's so important to build a strong foundation in faith during our younger years.
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
— Hebrews 12:11
Nobody likes being corrected or going through hard times. But these experiences help us grow up and become better people. Just like exercise is hard but makes us stronger, spiritual training through challenges makes us more mature in our faith.
Practical Application for Today
So what does all this mean for your life right now? Here are some practical ways to grow up spiritually:
- Read your Bible regularly: You can't grow without knowing what God says. Make time each day to read Scripture, even if it's just a few verses.
- Learn from others: Find mature Christians who can mentor you. Listen to your parents, pastors, and other wise believers who can help you grow.
- Practice making good choices: Maturity comes from using what you know. When you face decisions, ask yourself what Jesus would do and choose that path.
- Serve others: Growing up means thinking less about yourself and more about helping others. Look for ways to serve in your church, school, or community.
- Be patient with yourself: Growing up takes time. You'll make mistakes along the way. What matters is that you keep trying and keep learning.
- Stay connected to other believers: You need friends who also want to grow in their faith. We grow better together than alone.
Growing Up at Your Own Pace
Everyone grows at a different speed. Some people mature quickly, while others take more time. Don't compare your spiritual growth to someone else's journey. God works with each person individually.
What matters most is that you're moving forward, not standing still. Are you more like Jesus today than you were last year? Are you learning to love others better? Are you making wiser choices? If you can say yes to these questions, you're growing up in the right direction.
Conclusion
Growing up is one of God's main goals for every believer. He doesn't want us to stay spiritual babies forever. He wants us to mature, to think deeply, to act wisely, and to love genuinely.
Remember that growing up spiritually is different from just getting older. You can be young and spiritually mature, or you can be old and still spiritually immature. What matters is that you're actively pursuing growth in your faith and character.
God is patient with you as you grow. He knows it takes time. But He also calls you to keep moving forward—to put away childish thinking, to seek wisdom, to become more like Jesus every day. As you do this, you'll discover that growing up in faith is one of the most rewarding journeys you'll ever take.