¹ Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly —mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.                         1 Corinthians 3:1-2  

This morning was pre-school and kindergarten graduation at our school.  I must admit, I’ve always thought these little graduations kind of silly.  Oh, cute and fun, for sure.  But still… just a little foolish.  I mean, what have they really accomplished in their 3 half days each week?  They still have years of school ahead of them.  What are we really celebrating?
But as the teacher had them each showcase what they had learned in the year, and I watched my son point out 5 letters he knew and count to 30 in Spanish, it made me think.  I know how hard he has worked to learn what comes like second nature to me.  This knowledge is truly an accomplishment for a 5 year old.
Have you had the privilege of knowing a “baby” Christian?  I have found such joy and renewed zeal in my own faith through the eyes of someone who has newly learned of Christ’s love and sacrifice.  One of the most wondrous things is to witness the journey they make toward a new life as a Christian.  To guide them in studying God’s Word and learning the desires and designs he has for our lives.  I was there when one young woman, who had been studying God’s word with my husband, suddenly looked up and proclaimed, “I shouldn’t be living with my boyfriend.  Should I?”
Wasn’t that obvious?  Obviously not.
This morning, watching those 5 year olds point out 5 letters they knew, was a good reminder of how we should view those new Christians among us.  Our sanctified life really is a journey as we allow God’s love to work in our hearts and our growing relationship with Him to change our lives.  Becoming a mature Christian doesn’t happen overnight.  And just as I can’t expect my 5-year old to do algebra, we can’t expect a new Christian to realize every sin in his or her life right away.
And it’s not silly or foolish to find joy in those life changing “accomplishments” brought about by faith.  Even those we think should have been obvious.  Because in sin, they aren’t.   These “steps” are definitely cause to celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit! 

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. ¹³ And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-14