You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)
When babies are born, parents have expectations about their development. For example, babies can walk as early as 9 months, and most are walking by 16 months. According to experts, most children start to say their first words around 12 months, and typically by age 2 they have a vocabulary of about fifty words and can form 2-word sentences.
While these are just averages, they do represent reasonable expectations on the part of parents for their children. When babies reach these milestones ahead of schedule, parents, and especially grandparents, might brag that their offspring is exceptional! Before anyone gets a big head, remember that Mozart composed his first symphony when he was 8 years old. Is that an unreasonable expectation?
On the other hand, a delay in walking and talking can be disconcerting, especially to first-time parents. Everyone develops differently, but there are reasonable expectations.
What are reasonable expectations for spiritual development? How much time should pass before we can expect to see spiritual fruit in someone’s life? Many parents use a tape measure or even a doorframe to chart a child’s growth. Measuring and monitoring spiritual growth is more difficult.
Everyone Needs an Example
And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Titus 2:7 (NLT)
Early in a child’s development, parents will begin to encourage speech. Say “mama” or “dada,” or in my present circumstance, every time I talked to my grandson, I’m saying, “say grandpa!” Vocabulary and comprehension are taught by example and imitation.
Paul urges Titus to be an example that will reinforce what he is teaching. Someone once said, “What you are doing is speaking so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” Godly examples are essential in the development and maturity of new believers. Leaders are going to be an example one way or another, so let’s be an example of what to do instead of what not to do.
It is much easier to be an example to others when we have an example to follow ourselves. Paul said, Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV). It is much better than the example that influenced King Amon. He followed the example of his father, worshiping the same idols his father had worshiped. He abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors, and he refused to follow the Lord’s ways. 2 Kings 21:21–22 (NLT)
Growing up, my mother had a copy of the poem, “Children Learn What They Live” By Dorothy Law Nolte hanging on the wall. It emphasized the importance of examples in attitude, encouragement, and other attributes that are vital for maturity. I pray that what we do is in alignment with what we say because everyone needs a good example.
Impatiently Patient
Love is patient and kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT)
As every parent knows, children require patience. It is interesting that we will spend time teaching them how to say, “mama or papa,” but they seem to learn how to say “no” easier than most words. (By the way, is there a spiritual equivalent to “the terrible twos?”)
For a few of God’s servants, patience seems to come naturally, but for many of us, we are “impatiently patient.” We know we should be patient because of scriptures like: A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 2 Timothy 2:24 (NLT).
But even the greatest of all leaders had his patience tested: Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Matthew 17:17 (NLT). Or as the Psalmist explained: Again and again they tested God’s patience and provoked the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 78:41 (NLT)
God, as our example, is patient: And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. 2 Peter 3:15 (NLT). People do not always grow and mature as quickly as we would like. Paul tells us that God’s servants must be patient with difficult people, and just like some children are more difficult than others, people that God has placed into our care will try our patience in unusual ways.
There Is No Substitute for Presence
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NLT)
Studies have shown that babies raised in an institutional environment with minimal contact and affection have a more challenging time developing emotionally and intellectually. We can never underestimate the value of spending time in the presence of someone who loves us and cares for us.
Not all parents can offer their children affluence, or the best educational opportunities, but just “being there” gives children an advantage. By worldly standards, the apostles did not receive what the religious leaders of the day considered to be a superior education. In fact, their poise, their boldness, and their command of Scripture astonished the religious leaders.
What these men had was better than the finest education the world could provide. They had been in the presence of Jesus. In fact, they spent 3 years in intense discipleship program that prepared them for the commission that Christ gave to them which is “preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.”
With the technology available today, information can be transferred and taught remotely, but the impartation of spiritual understanding and development is most effectively accomplished in person. Discipleship demands the capacity to witness firsthand a life that is lived in alignment with what is taught. That would be a reasonable expectation.
Steve Ekeroth