Maturity

I am a witness to the power of missionary service.

Serving in a foreign land, learning a new language and adjusting to a different culture makes a tremendous difference in the life of every young missionary.

Departing from home, they arrive in the mission with many childish characteristics and behaviours.

It’s time to grow up!

Time passes.

Change happens.

Far from home, they become adults.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became an adult, I put away childish things ” (1 Cor. 13:11).

Unlike childlike, childish suggests irresponsibility, being self-centred and immature.

Each of us will not mature spiritually until we choose, as the Apostle Paul phrased it, to “put away childish things.”

Missionary service is intense, demanding and frequently filled with hardship.

Yet, filled with a new purpose, each young man or woman, learns about being credible, reliable, accountable, disciplined and builds relationships of trust with God and others.

They develop their faith in God, they acquire wisdom through experience, they understand how to serve and love others.

They work hard, recognising that obedience, consistency, and endurance are all keys to success.

As they also learn to lead others, they must first master themselves and be steadfast in their service.

They choose to become Christlike and follow in His ways.

Over and over again, I watch each of them mature into adulthood.

How have you chosen to “put away childish things”?