One of my greatest joys is observing my children in their maturity, capable, strong, productive adults who are part of rich relationships, making bright places for those who live around them. Each is amazingly unique in personality and ability, but they are all truly grown up!
Oh yes, I loved when they were cute little kids who needed so much care and guidance. I liked their teenage years less when they looked like adults but still lacked true wisdom. I watched, with some trepidation, as they wandered into their 20’s offering counsel as needed and watching them learn maturity in trial and error. Now they are in mid-life and I see mature people, who are living their best lives.
What does your Heavenly Father see in you, my friend?
Does he see an infant, a growing but yet undeveloped young Christian, or does He delight in your spiritual maturity?
When I see a toddler having a tantrum, I smile indulgently knowing that a frustrated 2 year-old has a very limited ability to understand his own emotions or to exercise self-control. When I see a man losing it my response is not nearly so charitable. That little girl who loves 5o ‘pretend’ at being a little princess is sweet and we smile at her innocence. A woman who is still lost in fantasy land is a sad person, for whom we feel pity.
Do you know that it is quite possible to ‘grow up’ without
becoming a mature adult? Chronological
age does not have a direct correlation to true maturity. Our bodies grow into
adulthood without much conscious thought. True maturity is developed,
cultivated, and learned. In
difficult moments, in times of confusion, when the world goes upside down we are
all so thankful for the person who is the ‘adult in the room,’
the one who capable of seeing the situation, providing insight, steadiness, and
courage, as they provide a guiding hand.
Maturity is marked by awareness of life, by understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses, by the ability to press through hard times, by self-control and wisdom. A mature person is capable of play, knows when to laugh and when to cry, and is, above all, a person who can be trusted to hold his place in the world – whatever comes. Maturity is demonstrated by a wholeness of person – with emotions, values, and spirituality aligned – that allows for a rich character to develop in us.
Here is the key question – am I maturing in Christ?
Paul, writing to the Christians of Corinth, lamented their immaturity. "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:1, NIV) Their community was marked by fighting over position, selfish displays of ‘spiritual’ gifts, and refusal to develop the character of Christ Jesus. God, by His Spirit, urged them to grow up and become useful to His purposes, not focused on themselves.
Peter also addressed the issue of spiritual immaturity. I wonder if he was reflecting on his own immaturity and impulsiveness in the early days of his Christianity when he wrote this: "make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:5-8, NLT)
The young pastor, Timothy, was struggling in his work in the church. He was intimidated by false teachers, facing critics from his congregation, and wobbly in his leadership. His mentor/spiritual father, Paul, urged him "Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next." (1 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT) Train yourself for maturity!
We grow in maturity as we make those day to day choices that
require deferred gratification, as we do ‘right things’ even when we do not
want to do them, when we learn truth and apply it. What a rich harvest that wise
maturity provides in our lives, sparing many a foolish decision, keeping us on
course when we are tempted, and allowing us to lift others when they are
stumbling under the weight of the world.
So, will we just ‘grow up’ or will we become mature in emotion, faith, love,
and hope?
The word from the Word points to a critical part of developing real maturity. The community of faith, mentors and leaders gifted by the Spirit, is our training ground. Christians are not solitary giants, they are strong together, when they give encouragement and share wisdom. "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ," (Ephesians 4:11-12, NLT) God calls us into His Church and gives us spiritual ministers so …"that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth." (Ephesians 4:13-14, NLT)
Ready? Let’s grow on into the beauty of maturity in Christ!
(Video of this blog at this link)
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Worthy of ev'ry song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
Jesus the name above ev'ry other name
Jesus the only one who could ever save
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You We live for You
Holy there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett
© 2016 Kaple Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Said And Done Music; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Martin, Karl Andrew; Bethel Music Publishing
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