Maturing means leaving behind character traits that hold us back and the goal is to grow up. Growing up is a painful process. 1 Pet. 2:2 states that we grow up into our salvation--through nourishment of our souls. What are we nourished by--Jesus and He tastes mmmm, good.

We christians are rejected by men but we shouldn't feel too bad about it because what do they know. The other reason to not worry is that we are chosen and precious to God. Verse 5 says we are being built up as a spiritual house. Not by our own doing but by the sovereignty of God.

1 Peter 2:1 and 1 Peter 2:5