Putting Away Childish Things

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

1 Corinthians 13:11
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.

From the day we are born we begin training. We receive information on how we are to approach life and all of it's challenges and opportunities. Yet, if intentional training does not occur, we are stilled trained; albeit unintentionally.

Every defense mechanism, behavior problem, heart corruption and life issue that manifest in adulthood stems from child hood training. There may be generational curses and spiritual issues handed down, but I believe they are fortified and released by lifes experiences early in childhood.

We always see the positive aspect of Proverbs 22:6 but fail to see that it applies no matter what. The truth is, we will find it difficult to depart from childhood ways for the rest of our lives barring a genuine encounter with God to affect permanent lasting change.

Even when we understand the power of salvation and regeneration; newness in Christ; we tend to translate our control mechanisms and weakness over into our new found faith.

Further more, we continue training and reinforcing our childish ways upon our children, and even those around us who are babies in Christ.

Matthew 18:2,3
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

There is a child like purity that our hearts have to embrace to see kingdom of heaven in and around us. The purity of a child knows no abuse, knows no manipulation, sees no one as threat or enemy, but sincerely seeks to befriend anyone. A child knows one thing: dependence. They look to someone to provide them with food, comfort and love. The heart of a child may not understand discipline, but will flourish when loving correction draws safe boundaries and limits in their world.

The key to walking away from our control mechanisms of childhood, yet embracing the heart of a child lies, in living our life from a heart that remains pure. As I have approached the needs of people in counseling situations over the years, and fielded countless prayer requests. I observed a common thread.

Every one wants help, everyone wants their situation to change. Many will give mental ascent to the truth in scripture and the power of prayer, yet few, very few will ever really surrender the reigns of their heart totally to God. Most will not abandon the techniques they learned as a child to cope with life and solve crisis.

When we can come to the place that we intentionally push the delete button and effectively determine to approach life with a clean slate, only then can we begin a life lived from our heart. The spirit led life is the only one that honors God's complete desire for us. True spirituality involves total heart surrender.

I realize this post doesn't propose how to accomplish any of this. I am on a quest to fully realize that in my own life. But I think if we become aware that most people don't really change, they just take up a different cause or position. Many will embrace religion or faith to find comfort and peace, and that's fine as long as they become truly saved.

But aren't we saved to become useful to the Master? Aren't we changed to really share His love, walk as He walked, and see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Its as though we want so desperately to be loved, to belong, and to be significant we will post our flag anywhere and declare what a huge fan of something we are. We will join a club we know nothing about. We will jump into the river of common opinion without fleshing out one of our own.

It's a paradox, many will never truly grow up, but those same people will not embrace the true child likeness required to enter the Kingdom of heaven.