It’s been 17 years since my mother died of cancer; she died four months after my father passed away from lung cancer also. Since it’s my birthday month as well, I spent time thinking about my childhood because Christmas times a-comin’. Growing up I may not have always gotten what I wanted, but I always had what I needed.
I remember loathing my father’s discipline when I was a little boy. Now that I’m older I appreciate it because it was real love. Discipleship, like discipline, isn’t a fun experience. Spiritual maturity is part of a Christian’s journey. In life, the only way to keep from getting older is by dying.
Spiritually, the only way to have life is by dying to self—o’ come to the cross. When our Rabbi Jesus established His church, He founded it on the teaching of dying to self daily (Matthew 16:24). Within the Jewish context, discipleship was a preventive measure to keep Jews from straying from God’s ways like naïve sheep (Isaiah 53:6).
God was and is life to His people. Discipleship, therefore, is a means to find true life and not false fleeting temporary pleasures of this world. The law was a protective measure against this world and its lusts. Obedience to the law is the only way and there is no other way to God.
When Mary’s boy child came, He came to fulfill the first law, not to destroy it (Matthew 5:17-20), thus the need to obey our rabbis’ teachings.” For there is no other way!” Bring on the holidays!
Jesus reminded His Jewish followers that faith is useless without obedience (Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 6:46). Part of growing up is using what you’ve learned. This is a very Jewish teaching (Proverbs 22:6)
Jesus was born to teach us the way to Heaven. The church is called to make disciples of this way, it’s not about making people feel good. That is what false teachers who’ve gone off the deep end preach, mature believers do not keep regurgitating spiritual fundamentals, they build on them and obey. We make war with our flesh and don’t wobble on beliefs so we can be happy.
Jesus taught this principle in His parable about the good and bad soil (Matthew 13:1-23). The word of God takes root and grows in good soil, the bad soil doesn’t allow Christian teaching to penetrate their heart, much less their lives.
As I close this series on spiritual maturity, it’s vital to understand that it’s not enough to go to church for 10, 20, 30 years or read the Bible for 100 years, if you’re not going to obey it. There is nothing sadder than a 30-year-old or 40-year-old Christian who only survives on spiritual milk, baby food, especially if they are in a leadership position. Our Rabbi made it clear, if we lose our saltiness or if we cease to be the light of the world, then we are good for nothing in His Kingdom (Matthew 5:13-15).
This is why the true Apostles of the church urged believers to mature in the faith and move on from spiritual milk to the deeper things of the faith (1 Corinthians 3:2; 14:20, Ephesians 4:15, 1 Peter 2:2).
Spiritual maturity isn’t measured in years or knowledge, it’s measured by actions. Hold on, a faith that can’t be tested cannot be trusted (Joshua 1:8-9). Jesus had his FAITH tested in the wilderness and then He allowed the faith of the Disciples to be tested. Nothing shows spiritual maturity like trials and tribulation, our faith grows from standing in the storm.
Spiritual maturity is knowing our reward is in Heaven. Mature believers don’t have their hearts set on things of this world; they don’t chase dreams and earthly greatness like the world. The author of Hebrews tells us how the patriarchs of our faith focused on a better reward (Hebrews 11:12-15). Spiritual maturity gives you a different perspective on life. Immature believers can’t tell it all, because they still live for the pleasures of this life.
The older I get the more my perspective changes. When I was younger I shunned my father’s discipline, now I’m grateful for it. When I was younger I wanted immediate satisfaction.
Now I enjoy things more when I wait for them, I’ve learned to be content and understand always wanting doesn’t give us joy and only leaves us disappointed. The Apostle Paul explained that mature faith replaces childish desires, the two cannot coexist (1 Corinthians 3:1-2; 13:11).
When I was little, I looked forward to Christmas because I knew Santa Claus is coming to town, but now I am more thankful that Jesus came. Because regardless of what a television evangelist says, Christianity isn’t about getting what we want, it’s about not getting what we deserve.
Spiritual maturity lets us look at life through a different lens; we don’t obey out of legalism, we obey out of love for God (John 14:15). Mature Christians are called to correct and teach others God’s way—to trust and obey (Galatians 6:6 , 2 Timothy 4:2-3 )!
2 Comments
“Trust and Obey” is a hymn we sing regularly at my church. Such a simple, yet complex message. Thank you for reminding us to recognize the importance of the basics. Wishing you a blessed Advent and Christmas .
I love your comparison’s between believers. I once had a man in a Bible study group. He was 80 and had been in church his entire life. In the middle of one lesson he blurted out I just don’t get it. All this forgiveness stuff. A missionary in the class turned to him and shared the gospel message and after 80 years he gave his life to Jesus. I was astounded how much time could pass of going through the motions. But that day on he was a new creation. And we got to watch him transform to a mature believer.