Graduating to Adult of God by Rev. Christine Emmerling, D.D. 6/7/2026

This time of year, is known for graduations which inspired my topic for today Graduating to Adult of God. The following is from the Aramaic translation of 1st Corinthians 13:11-13 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

As children our first understanding of God is more like an overlord super being that watches over us, provides for us, and punishes us when we break a rule. Much like the relationship a child has with their parents. So our first concept is a person of power or entity separate from ourselves. Then as we mature spiritually our relationship to God changes, and we understand how law works and take responsibility for our actions.

The Bible represents our journey from Adam being to Christ being, and tells of our unfolding understanding to our relationship with God. Adam and Eve, and the prophets that followed, had a God as a separate being or entity. This God would provide for them, grant favors and also judge and punish, and even kill for them. It was a God made in their own image with human characteristics that also had super powers.

Christ Jesus said, “You see me, you see the Father.” Christ Jesus had a holistic understanding of God as a Divine Presence being within him (mind, body, soul) and everywhere present. Now the understanding and relationship to God had evolved and is much different. It is being one with God, which is more of a partnership in co-creating or conscious creating. Jesus lived in Oneness with God as a living presence within him that he drew upon for guidance, supply and healing works.

From the Old Testament Psalm 119 34, King David wrote, “Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” A great deal is heard of the “Law” but many people lack a definite understanding of what it really means, and being ignorant of this Law doesn’t change its operation.

Briefly put, there is an unbreakable sequence of cause and effect throughout the universe. As we sow, we shall reap. Every deed or belief results in certain consequences, and these consequences come to us as the result of that deed. That is the Law, and once we understand this we have taken the first great step on the road to freedom. We then understand that if we do not desire certain consequences to come into our lives, we must not set them up by taking the corresponding action. In other words, if we do not want the goods delivered we must not order them.

In the past, it was only the more developed souls, the great Initiates, who knew of this principle. In today’s world of education, and the world wide internet, the average person thoroughly understands the idea of law. They understand that if the electric light will not work, it is simply because the laws of electricity have been transgressed. And for the same reason knows that as soon as the law has been fulfilled then nothing whatever can prevent the light bulb from turning on. Or, when searching on the internet and misspell a word it is not going to pull up the desired information.

A person of childish ways can believe that some mysterious power has it out for them, the universe is against them or is being punished. The childish view of the world sees itself as disconnected from the results. They believe that whatever is going on in their world experience has nothing to do with their thinking, speaking, attitudes, or actions. They see themselves as victim to circumstance, and blame everyone and everything else for their problems, pain and suffering - including God.

A more mature person will look to the Law that has been broken and quickly remedy. For example, an electric light won’t work is because the law of electricity has been transgressed. We may first check to see if the light bulb needs replacing, or if the lamp needs to be plugged in to an electrical outlet. And if that doesn’t work, then check to see if the breaker switch is flipped on or off. When all else fails call the power company to see if there is a power outage which will remedy itself in due time.

The point here is that all this negative energy, whether spoken, acted out or just thought, is being sent out into the universe to come back in some form of like experience - a matching vibration. In Divine Science we have this law as “like produces like.” This law of “Like produces like” is closely connected with “That which is born of Spirit is Spirit” to remind us that God is spirit, and therefore we are one with God as spirit beings. To know our true self is crucial in developing spiritual maturity.

Science has taught there are only four basic stages of development, that of baby, childhood, adulthood, and old age. There is another line of development as we age that we call emotional maturity. An adult person can still be emotionally a teenager. Meaning a mature age does not guarantee being an emotionally mature adult. Beyond emotional maturity is our spiritual maturity. Jesus at age thirteen, speaking with the Rabbis, showed to be spiritually mature beyond his years. While many adults may never develop spiritually.

Our first step in developing a spiritually mature understanding of God, is to understand our relationship to God. To first know our At-One-Ment, then to develop an inner relationship with God through your own soul. For it is through our own soul that the voice of God speaks to us. This is the light that lights every man that comes into the world. This is conscience. This is intuition. This is true wisdom. This is the still small voice within us, the voice of our inner Christ, the voice of God.

Once we receive inner guidance then we are to follow through - to listen and obey. If we choose not to listen or not to do what this voice within our soul is saying, then we become as a house divided against itself which shows up in our relationships, finances, work, and health. Now the good thing is, that we get plenty of opportunity to learn, to choose differently and start over again.

Spiritual maturity requires study of truth principle, disciplining our thoughts and refining our emotions, redefining our beliefs, taking time in silence through meditation and prayer. The silence is to be in a quiet receptive mode of listening to receive inspiration. Then to obey, to take appropriate action.

It is doing to others as you would have them do to you. To truly love one another including ones self. When our relationship to God is in right order, then our other relationships are in right alignment. Once we realize our oneness with the All, then we also realize that we are one with everyone. Even to all life, including all creatures, our mother earth and all the elements, and includes the entire universe. And, as our Statement of Being reads, both invisible and visible.

We become responsible for our thoughts and actions. No person can make us angry unless that anger is already within us. We stop blaming others for our actions, such as, you made me do it or the devil made me do it. We are to clean our inner household of false beliefs and forgive the past so that the fearful and emotional projections stop.

As we spiritually mature our ego sense of self is no longer dominate, but is subservient to the Christ self or God within us. Our state of being has switched from fear, anger, anxiety and lack consciousness to a consciousness of unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness and generosity.

Not only do we become harmless with our thoughts, speech and deeds, we also become helpful. And, I don’t mean the person out to convert others. It is to help without an agenda or for personal gain. To just be present for others letting our light shine brightly - truly being a clear vessel. We are inwardly guided to how we share our love, light and talents.

Christ Jesus is our great example in being helpful. He fed the 5,000 people. He helped heal thousands of people. And, most importantly, in his day Jesus taught thousands of people, and even today his teachings are helping millions to know themself, so that we too can do these works, and even greater works than these we shall do.

We have a choice of expressing our humanhood or Christhood from human being to spirit being. From the reacting to effects and outer stimulus with fear, anger, victim and depression to a non reaction to the outer conditions which enables us to express love, light, joy, and peace into the world. By changing our focus from the world of effects to the inner kingdom of God, the Christ within, then we be this love and light in the world, and like a searchlight revealing heaven on earth, the true reality. Love is the true power and nature of all life.

One of my favorite authors, John Randolf Price, wrote A Spiritual Philosophy for the New World. Its about changing our world view from material to spirit - human being to spirit being. The following are guidelines from his book:

1. Begin each day, even before getting out of bed, by expressing loving gratitude for all the good in your life, for the everywhere present Activity of God.

2. Devote your meditation time to a contemplation of your Holy Self. Ponder the infinite Knowingness of that Self – Its Wisdom, Intelligence, Life, Love, Joy and Power.

3. Spirit can do for you only what It can do through you. Instead of praying for things and conditions, ponder the invisible Allness that is already yours within.

4. Continue with your daily affairs but with a focus on spirituality rather than materiality, and all action taken in the world will be spirit directed.

5. Keep the idea of the Kingdom within you fully present in your consciousness. Think about it continuously throughout the day with great love.

6. Observe with unconditional love and discernment the activities of the phenomenal world as if you were not a part of that world... Observe all without judgement, not labeling anything good or bad.

7. At the end of each day to forgive and release having gratitude for the opportunities to give and receive love.

In time, a shift in consciousness will take place, and a graduation to the next level of spiritual maturity, an adulthood of God - Living from the Christ within!