Morihei Ueshiba, a Japanese martial artist once remarked: “Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.” Isaiah 1:18 reminds us: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Cognitive development is regarded as an integral factor of life, primarily referring to the growth of a child's ability to think, reason, and understand. It embraces the processes of meditative scrutiny, exploring, and assessing crucial factors, including problem-solving, memory, and decision-making. Predominantly, it's how children learn to make sense of the world around them. It encapsulates the blossoming of knowledge, skills, analytical abilities, and the way children process information and form ideas.
This includes focus, attention, memory, and critical thinking skills. Knowledge is imperative for many brain functions. It empowers individuals to understand the world, make informed decisions, and navigate challenges effectively. Knowledge is not just about academic learning; it encompasses practical skills, social awareness, and the ability to learn from experience and mistakes.
Cognitive development is crucial in the young because it's considered the foundation for a child's future learning and overall well-being. However, it is also considered beneficial in adult life. It is considered as one of the necessary skills that incorporates language, enabling one to categorize, conceptualize, and communicate ideas effectively. It creates and shapes meaning. This is considered vital for academic success, social interactions, and navigating daily life. Strong cognitive skills enable children to learn effectively, adapt to new situations, and build confidence. It is deemed as one of the primary foundation stones for discernment, which could eventually prevent apostasy through misinformation. If we don’t learn from the truth, we may lack the wisdom to discern effectively.
In Christian theology, the grace of discernment is an important factor of life because it enables sound decision-making by helping individuals distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and bad, and ultimately, align actions with one's values and goals. It allows for a deeper understanding of situations, promotes spiritual growth, and helps avoid negative issues from poor choices. Matthew 12:31-32 reminds us: “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Hebrews 6:1-20 conveys a strong warning against apostasy, or falling away from the Christian faith, while simultaneously offering encouragement and assurance of God's faithfulness to those who persevere. The passage highlights the danger of spiritual immaturity and the importance of moving beyond basic Christian teachings towards maturity in Christ. It emphasizes that those who have experienced the blessings of salvation but then turn away face dire consequences, likened to land that produces thorns and thistles after receiving rain. However, the passage also assures believers that God's promises are steadfast and that those who remain faithful will inherit those promises, drawing encouragement from Abraham's example of faith and patience. The passage reminds us: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things - things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Anytime is considered a good time to be introduced to the concept of God, but childhood is generally contemplated to be an ideal time to introduce the young to the benefits of His existence. It's when they are most open to learning and developing foundational beliefs. Early exposure to faith helps shape their understanding of the world and their place in it, fostering a sense of connection to something greater than themselves. It can be a transformative experience leading to a sense of purpose and divine support. Bella Hadid, otherwise known as: E.G. Bella, a female American author who has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil once remarked: "When I put God first, God takes care of me and energizes me to do what really needs to be done."
God, particularly Jesus in Christianity, is often described as a "first love" to signify the primary and most passionate relationship in a person's life. It refers to the initial, fervent love and devotion that a believer feels towards the Almighty. Love and affection are key elements in life and play a crucial role in cognitive development, particularly in early childhood. While not considered an empirical skill in itself, love and emotional security provide the foundation for cognitive growth by fostering a safe and supportive environment where learning can thrive. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 reminds us: “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Amen.
