Posted October 11, 2016 under Videos

How Can I Become Spiritually Mature?

How long have you been in a relationship with the Lord? How would you describe your life in Him at present? Encircle the point in this continuum about how you feel about your Christian life:

leaves much to be desired ----------------------------------------------- very satisfied

What made you answer this way??

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Spiritual maturity is a worthy goal to aspire for. The Lord expects us to grow. Just read Psalm 1, where we are enjoined to delight in God's Word, meditate on it day and night, and as a result, grow and bear fruit. The Lord placed us in the church, so that as we are equipped through the ministry of God's people, we will grow in our faith and in our knowledge of His Son and become mature in the Lord - our standard for which is Christ Himself (Eph. 4:11-16).

But what does spiritual maturity involve? We ask this question because sometimes we have incorrect notions of spiritual maturity that result in unproductive perspectives and unhealthy attitudes about the Christian life. Let's review what the video shows about what spiritual maturity is and what it is not:

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There are different ways an incorrect view of spiritual maturity can affect us. It can give us false pride when we think it we can arrive to it on account of our "age" in the Christian life, knowledge, or achievements and activities. It can make us lax and "rest on our laurels" if we feel we have achieved certain things in our Christian life. It can also make us insecure when we look to others who have "been there" longer than we have. It can make us set goals for ourselves that look noble and yet actually miss the point.

What we need to remember then is that spiritual maturity is not a static destination point that we achieve or arrive at. Even the Apostle Paul would not claim that he has arrived. In your own time, read and study Philippians 3 for a better understanding of Paul's attitude on the matter of achievements. What does he instead strive for?

Spiritual maturity is the result of a dynamic relationship with God where we are growing and deepening in our knowledge, love and intimacy with Him in a way that increasingly humbles us and causes us to desire to obey Him and please Him in every way. The Christian life is a relationship with God. It is not simply a status, but a living, dynamic relationship with Him. This is also why it is characterized as our walk and journey with God. Such perspective should reorient our goals and source of satisfaction in life. Doing so will humble us, set our sights on walking with, obeying and pleasing God, and cause us to rediscover the joy in our salvation.

In what ways do you need to reorient your understanding of spiritual maturity? How does an understanding of spiritual maturity as a dynamic relationship with God impact your goals in your Christian life? What does it make you aspire for?

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List down concrete steps can you take in light of your answers above.

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Make Colossians 1:9b,10 your personal prayer:

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Let's pray: What a privilege and a joy it is to be in a relationship with You, O Lord! Whenever I lose sight of what the Christian life is all about, redirect my eyes to You and this journey that I am walking with You. Help me not to be simply satisfied with the flurry of activities that we equate with spirituality, but to realize that these are but means to grow in my obedience and love for You. May our walk together bring pleasure to Your heart, O God. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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