Make Spiritual Maturity Your Goal
ICS Daily Devotions
Luke 2:42, 46 (NKJV) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast….Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
What Jesus did by showing interest in spiritual matters is very typical for any 12-year-old Jewish boy. A Jewish boy celebrates his Bar Mitzvah at age 13. He is then required to follow the commandments of the Torah and is considered an adult under Jewish law, becoming responsible for his actions in terms of religious observance. Therefore, turning 12 is a significant milestone for a Jewish boy, as it marks the start of his preparation for the Bar Mitzvah and indicates a deeper engagement with his faith and responsibilities as he nears adulthood. It is a crucial time for spiritual and intellectual growth. He would be studying Hebrew, the Torah, and learning how to incorporate all the observances into his life.
Jesus spent three days listening to the teachings and asking questions in the temple. How about us? Are we prioritising our children’s time for spiritual growth, or are we only ensuring they succeed academically, musically, and in sports? Children today mature at a much younger age, similar to Jewish children in Jesus’ time. They learn from whatever they watch on their mobile devices, which may differ substantially from what the Bible teaches.
We should also reflect on whether we are growing spiritually as individuals and as a family. Spiritual maturity involves more than just accumulating Bible knowledge, but also applying the truth in our daily lives. Our goal is to become more like Christ. One way to do this is to hunger for the Word of God in our hearts and to set aside time to study the Bible. We are called to live out our transformed lives from the inside out.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
God never intends for us to stagnate in our spiritual growth—He doesn’t want adults to be overgrown babies still drinking milk and wearing diapers! God has made us free moral agents, allowing us to make choices in our lives. However, our decisions are not always wise and often motivated by self-interest. There is always a struggle in our hearts regarding what God desires for us versus what we want to do. We are either influenced by the world or shaped by God and His Word. Although Jesus is omniscient and a master of the Torah, he consistently chose to follow the right teachings. As Christians, we need to take responsibility for our spiritual growth, striving to grow yearly.
Sermon Series: Christmas 2025
