MOVING ON TO MATURITY (1)
THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God ~Hebrws 6:1~ (AMP)
Spiritually, some of us haven’t grown up. “You…ought to be teaching others, but instead you…need someone to teach you…until you become…mature” (see Hebrews 5:12-6:1).
Just as there are signs of physical growth, there are hallmarks of spiritual maturity like the ones mentioned in 1 Peter 3:8-12:
(1) “Be…united in spirit.”
Now unity isn’t the same as uniformity where everybody has to think alike, or even unanimity where we have to agree about everything. Unity is focusing on what unites us, instead of the petty issues that divide us.
(2) “Sympathizing with one another.”
The Greek interpretation of the word sympathy is “to feel for” others. “When [they’re] happy, be happy with them…when they are sad, be sad” (Romans 12:15). When you become more concerned about others than you are about yourself, you’re starting to mature.
(3) “Loving each other.”
We all need friends to love and support us. The president of Taylor University said one of his greatest hopes is to end up with eight friends who’ll attend his funeral without once checking their watches!
(4) “Be… compassionate.”
In a high-tech age it’s easy to tune out those in need. When Jesus saw people, “He felt compassion…because they were distressed and dispirited” (Matthew 9:36). Hurting people touched His heart, and they should touch ours too.
(5) “Be…humble.”
One Bible teacher says, “Look for opportunities to give…to build up rather than tearing down, to serve rather than being served, to learn from others rather than clamoring for the teaching stand.”
So, how are you doing so far?
O Dear Lord, we thank You for the maturity that You are giving to us each and every day. We thank You for the Word that tells us how we are to be, how we should act, and how we should deal with others. Help us Lord to become one like You so that we can walk in total maturity able to go and to teach and to help others in their walk with You. Father as we go through this day and the week ahead of us we ask that You would watch over us and keep us safe from all harm, as our Saviour taught us to pray "Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil" In Jesus name we pray Amen
Spiritually, some of us haven’t grown up. “You…ought to be teaching others, but instead you…need someone to teach you…until you become…mature” (see Hebrews 5:12-6:1).
Just as there are signs of physical growth, there are hallmarks of spiritual maturity like the ones mentioned in 1 Peter 3:8-12:
(1) “Be…united in spirit.”
Now unity isn’t the same as uniformity where everybody has to think alike, or even unanimity where we have to agree about everything. Unity is focusing on what unites us, instead of the petty issues that divide us.
(2) “Sympathizing with one another.”
The Greek interpretation of the word sympathy is “to feel for” others. “When [they’re] happy, be happy with them…when they are sad, be sad” (Romans 12:15). When you become more concerned about others than you are about yourself, you’re starting to mature.
(3) “Loving each other.”
We all need friends to love and support us. The president of Taylor University said one of his greatest hopes is to end up with eight friends who’ll attend his funeral without once checking their watches!
(4) “Be… compassionate.”
In a high-tech age it’s easy to tune out those in need. When Jesus saw people, “He felt compassion…because they were distressed and dispirited” (Matthew 9:36). Hurting people touched His heart, and they should touch ours too.
(5) “Be…humble.”
One Bible teacher says, “Look for opportunities to give…to build up rather than tearing down, to serve rather than being served, to learn from others rather than clamoring for the teaching stand.”
So, how are you doing so far?
O Dear Lord, we thank You for the maturity that You are giving to us each and every day. We thank You for the Word that tells us how we are to be, how we should act, and how we should deal with others. Help us Lord to become one like You so that we can walk in total maturity able to go and to teach and to help others in their walk with You. Father as we go through this day and the week ahead of us we ask that You would watch over us and keep us safe from all harm, as our Saviour taught us to pray "Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil" In Jesus name we pray Amen
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