Romans 8:31 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Maturity is not measured by our biological age. Maturity is our emotional stability in chaotic situations and our mental ability to embrace changes. Unfortunately, maturity does not evolve with aging. It is an intentional effort to grow, accept challenges and make the necessary adjustments that will nurture us to bud, blossom and bear fruits.
Life experiences and the way we handle crisis develop our spiritual maturity. Any problem can be looked at as an opportunity or an obstacle. “Every problem is a gift. Without problems, we would not grow.” — Anthony Robbins. Our perception of the peril will either make us ‘stretch and grow’ or ‘shirk and wither’. A disciplined prayer life to look heavenward and get divine direction rather than human deliberations will strengthen the core of our inner man.
Growing in maturity is like strengthening our core muscles (abdominal muscles, back muscles and the muscles around the pelvis). If we stop working out and exercising regularly, our body composition would start shrinking and we will lose our muscle structure. Spiritual maturity is very similar. We can never attain completion of spiritual maturity on earth. Spiritual maturity will be work-in-progress as long as we live on planet earth. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Transformation into the image of Christ will be complete only when we see the Saviour face-to-face.
Spiritual maturity comes with application, not just information. We can have theoretical knowledge about ‘muscle building’ but unless we exercise and put it into action, the head knowledge will be useless. Likewise, application of the Word of God in our daily lives will progress us into spiritual maturity.
Matured Christianity:
1. Forbearance: Our tolerance level is a good gauge of our spiritual maturity. If we are easily offended, annoyed or frustrated, then we are still children who are unequipped to adapt to challenges. “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). Perseverance produces the fruit of patience.
2. Forgive: Our quickness to forgive those who slander, backstab and betray us will shape our spiritual maturity. A matured Christian does not wait for the offender to ask for forgiveness. We must forgive the offender almost instantaneously to unclog our relationship with Jesus.
3. Fruitfulness: Our luscious and abundance of fruits and virtues should reveal the depth of our maturity in Christ Jesus. Hungry souls will be drawn to the succulent fruitfulness that they would taste in our words and deeds.
We grow from glory to glory from spiritual kiddos to mature adulthood through fervent prayer, fasting, forbearance and feeding on the Word of God. No one can boast about their spiritual maturity – we are all ‘work-in-progress’.
1 John 2:14 I write to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.
Prayer: Father God, break me, melt me, mold me and fashion me to grow into healthy spiritual adulthood. Amen.
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