Maturing in Christ
Maturing is vitally important to every aspect of our life. We measure maturity in many ways. We measure physical maturity by increasing in height and weight until we have reached the end of our growth stage. We look back on our past and see the person we used to be and compare that person to who we are now - whether being good, not so bad, or indifferent. One way that we can tell that we are maturing is when we see a positive progression from our past selves to our present selves.
When we come into the family of God we come in just as we did into the physical world as a baby. In our biological birth we conform to the world’s standards as we grow, but there is a different measurement of growth in God. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
I always say, “God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are!” In our spiritual rebirth there is a process of maturing. The greatest single indicator of the level of spiritual maturity in the life of a believer is your prayer life and reading the WORD OF GOD with clarity. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). Our greatest prayer should be, “Lord, mold and shape my life according to Your will and purpose. You are the potter, I am the clay.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6)
When we come into the family of God we come in just as we did into the physical world as a baby. In our biological birth we conform to the world’s standards as we grow, but there is a different measurement of growth in God. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — His good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV).
I always say, “God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are!” In our spiritual rebirth there is a process of maturing. The greatest single indicator of the level of spiritual maturity in the life of a believer is your prayer life and reading the WORD OF GOD with clarity. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV). Our greatest prayer should be, “Lord, mold and shape my life according to Your will and purpose. You are the potter, I am the clay.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6)