How can you apply "when I became a man" to current challenges? Tracing the Journey in One Verse “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 set aside childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) What ‘Childish Ways’ Look Like Today • Impulsive online reactions • Self-centered spending and leisure • Shallow, feelings-driven faith • Dodging hard conversations or commitments • Consuming without contributing—scrolling, binge-watching, complaining Marks of Spiritual Adulthood • Consistent, Scripture-guided speech (Ephesians 4:29) • Thought life captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) • Reasoning anchored in truth, not trends (Romans 12:2) • Love expressed in action, not emotion alone (1 John 3:18) • Steadfastness under pressure (1 Corinthians 16:13) Practical Shifts You Can Make This Week Talk • Pause before you post; ask, “Does this build up?” (Ephesians 4:15) • Replace sarcasm with sincere encouragement—text a verse, not a jab. Think • Begin the day with ten verses before ten messages. • Journal decisions alongside Proverbs 3:5-6, submitting plans to the Lord. Reason • Filter news and entertainment through Philippians 4:8. • Measure opportunities by eternal value, not immediate applause. Act • Schedule a weekly service slot—teach, mentor, or volunteer (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Automate giving; spontaneous generosity soon follows planned obedience. Facing Common 21st-Century Challenges Digital Distraction • Set “Sabbath hours” where devices rest and prayerful silence speaks (Mark 1:35). Cultural Confusion • Know the Word deeply so you’re “no longer infants, tossed by waves” (Ephesians 4:14-15). Relational Conflict • Pursue reconciliation first, not vindication (Matthew 5:23-24). • Choose love that “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Moral Temptation • Walk with wise believers (Proverbs 13:20); isolation breeds immaturity. • Flee, don’t flirt, with sin (2 Timothy 2:22). Weariness and Burnout • Remember adulthood in Christ is dependence, not self-reliance (John 15:5). • Build rhythms of rest that honor God’s design (Exodus 20:8-11). Growing Together • Join or start a small group where members “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). • Seek out a mentor and be a mentor—maturity multiplies. • Celebrate progress, not perfection; sanctification is a lifelong climb (Philippians 3:12-14). The Ultimate Model of Maturity Jesus “set His face toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51), choosing sacrifice over comfort. Following Him means laying down childish preferences and picking up a cross shaped by love. Step forward; today is a good day to grow up in Christ. |
    |