Hi there,
Just another morsel of food for the newbies to focus on: its ok to like being innocent, but at some point, you have to want to be mature (selah) Paul in the letters talks about people being unable to eat solid food, because they are still babes in faith (Hebrew 5:13) Paul does not condemn people for needing baby food, but he leaves open the anticipation of "righteousness" that godly conduct become a focus to transition to. Paul doesn't even urge people to plan to like certain types of solid food at some point - your liking of your innocence is something you can enjoy for the rest of your life, just like getting baptised it is a moment you will always cherish.
The point is the imperative that comes second in the statement ("its ok to like being innocent, but at some point, you have to want to be mature"), the "want". Wanting to be mature, is something that grows on you. You start to be disinterested in fickle things, in being Heavenly minded but no Earthly good. You start to want to know context and drive, to have a sense that you are focussed on the work of the Lord, that you have His will in mind. This is something you believe more and more, until you are great in stature in the Lord!
But how do you "want" to be mature? Paradoxically, by remaining innocent - but not just being innocent, but focussing on scripture and good works. People who say "faith comes by grace not works" are focussing on truth, even innocently, but they do not understand (yet?) that maturity requires both broad scriptural understanding and good works. Why? Because with greater maturity comes greater love and you cannot love in the faith, without loving work, nor read scriptures about it, without taking it to heart (that time must always be set side for work).
Rest on this suggestion, ask the Holy Spirit to talk to you about it - you want to know what scriptures you should be specifically reading, what works you should spiritually be looking forward to. The Holy Spirit has answers in abundance, it is not a mistake to ask God for that Spirit.
I hope this has been of some encouragement to you.
God bless.
Just another morsel of food for the newbies to focus on: its ok to like being innocent, but at some point, you have to want to be mature (selah) Paul in the letters talks about people being unable to eat solid food, because they are still babes in faith (Hebrew 5:13) Paul does not condemn people for needing baby food, but he leaves open the anticipation of "righteousness" that godly conduct become a focus to transition to. Paul doesn't even urge people to plan to like certain types of solid food at some point - your liking of your innocence is something you can enjoy for the rest of your life, just like getting baptised it is a moment you will always cherish.
The point is the imperative that comes second in the statement ("its ok to like being innocent, but at some point, you have to want to be mature"), the "want". Wanting to be mature, is something that grows on you. You start to be disinterested in fickle things, in being Heavenly minded but no Earthly good. You start to want to know context and drive, to have a sense that you are focussed on the work of the Lord, that you have His will in mind. This is something you believe more and more, until you are great in stature in the Lord!
But how do you "want" to be mature? Paradoxically, by remaining innocent - but not just being innocent, but focussing on scripture and good works. People who say "faith comes by grace not works" are focussing on truth, even innocently, but they do not understand (yet?) that maturity requires both broad scriptural understanding and good works. Why? Because with greater maturity comes greater love and you cannot love in the faith, without loving work, nor read scriptures about it, without taking it to heart (that time must always be set side for work).
Rest on this suggestion, ask the Holy Spirit to talk to you about it - you want to know what scriptures you should be specifically reading, what works you should spiritually be looking forward to. The Holy Spirit has answers in abundance, it is not a mistake to ask God for that Spirit.
I hope this has been of some encouragement to you.
God bless.
