Spiritual Maturity Step 1: Connect to God's Word • DDCommunity

The first step to spiritual maturity is to connect to God’s Word to transform our hearts and minds, shaping our lives to reflect His glory.

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning

“Let’s start at the very beginning” is a line from the song “Do-Re-Mi” from the 1965 film The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In the song, Maria sings, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read, you begin with A-B-C. When you sing, you begin with do-re-mi.” So, let’s start at the very beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind (John 1:1–4 NASB). And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14 NASB). Jesus, who is the Word, came into the world to teach us the very words of God.

Step 1: Connect to God’s Word

The first step to spiritual maturity is to connect to God’s Word as a little child. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me (Matt. 18:1–5 CSB).

Like babies that were just born, you should long for the pure milk of God’s word. It will help you grow up as believers (1 Pet. 2:2 NIrV). God’s words are foundational and life-giving. The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Ps. 19:7–8 NASB). Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4 NIV).

Why Connect to God’s Word?

There are many, many, many reasons to connect to God’s Word. In fact, Psalm 119 dedicates 176 verses to elaborating on some of these motives.

How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart (Ps. 119:1–2 CSB).

Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my advisers (Ps. 119:24 NASB). Forever, Lord, Your word stands in heaven (Ps. 119:89 NASB). The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Ps. 119:130 NASB).

Paul describes the “unfathomable riches of Christ” and the “multifaceted wisdom of God” that is ours through connecting to God’s word. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places (Eph. 3:8–10 NASB).

God Directs through His Words

As God directs us through His words and the Holy Spirit, we come to grasp the treasures we have in Christ. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might (Eph. 1:18–19 NASB).

Unfortunately, people reject the enlightenment of the Spirit to pursue their own agendas. “How can you say, ‘We are wise because we have the word of the Lord,’ when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies? These wise teachers will fall into the trap of their own foolishness, for they have rejected the word of the Lord. Are they so wise after all?” (Jer. 8:8–9 NLT)

Connect to God’s Wisdom through His Words

James has a great deal to say about wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (James 1:5 NIV). “The Jewish people were lovers of wisdom, as the Book of Proverbs gives evidence. Someone has said that knowledge is the ability to take things apart, while wisdom is the ability to put them together. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.”^[1] We are privileged to connect to God’s wisdom through His words so that we may be wise by following His words.

Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you (1 Pet. 1:22–25 NASB).

Treasure God’s Word

So, let’s start at the very beginning with the foundational truth and connect to God’s Word. Those who follow God’s Word are happy because God gives wisdom through His Word. Therefore, I must seek wisdom from God’s Word and treasure His Word. Then, I become truly wise when I follow God’s Word and apply it to my life.

More Steps to Spiritual Maturity

Dive deeper into As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father 10 Steps to Spiritual Maturity with these posts:

As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father Cover

Discover the heart of childlike faith! As a Little Child: Conversations with the Father by Melanie D. Lewis is available as an ebook and course through DDCommunity Institute.

Grow deeper in your walk with Christ. Learn how DDCommunity Institute equips Christian leaders for transformative ministry.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 340.

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Spiritual Maturity Step 1: Connect to God’s Word