March 17, 2023

“The Character of the Mature in Christ”

The poet Ogden Nash once said, “You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.”

While perfection can never be fully attained in this life, ever-increasing spiritual maturity is our calling. While it’s true we were saved by grace and not by works, it is the responsibility of every believer to mature in Christ.

Paul said it this way when writing to the believers at Colossae. “So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, mature in their relationship to Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)

This coming Sunday, we’ll look at four areas of character where the Word of God calls us to greater maturity. When I was younger, I used to imagine spiritual growth taking place by leaps and bounds. I’m pretty sure any spiritual maturity in my life never came that way. Instead, it was gradual, deliberate, and often, minute to minute.

The wonderful hymnist, Amy Carmichael, once penned some thoughts on the subject of spiritual maturity. She noted, “Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step, by little bits of wills, little denials of self,  little inward victories by faithfulness in very little things. That’s how they became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph in spiritual maturity. It is the work of the moment.”

Still growing!

pastor jamie