How Mature Are You?

How would you describe “spiritual maturity”? How would you describe maturity?

AI describes maturity as:

“A Mental and emotional development: The state of being mentally and emotionally well-developed, and therefore responsible. Maturity is the ability to respond to a situation appropriately.”

I think that’s pretty accurate.

However, what about “spiritual” maturity? AI nails it again:

”Spiritual maturity is a process of growing in your knowledge of God, your love for God, and your ability to walk out your faith. It's a goal that Christians strive for to imitate God and live out Christ's love.”

Maturity is not perfection, it’s a desire to grow, knowing we will fail. In the NT Paul writes to the Colossians:

“Epaphras, a servant of Jesus Christ, from your group … prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything God wants for you.” (Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NCV‬‬)

There are so many verses in the Bible speaking of spiritual maturity. A great one is in Galatians 5:22,23:

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

In short, God’s wisdom and lifestyle grows in the spiritual mature person. We become more like Christ.

To be honest, on some days, I really wonder about my own spiritual maturity. I am so thankful that all my sins, and immaturity has been paid for and reconciled through the life and death of Jesus Christ.

I’m also thankful that I can confess, repent, and seek forgiveness when I fail. I think spiritual maturity desires to be clean and forgiven. Spiritual maturity is eager to grow, change and make our wrongs right.

What’s crazy is that the cycle of confession, repentance and seeking forgivenss will continue as long as we live. Some mature quickly, others slow, some not all and there is a crowd out there that actually goes backward.

Where are you in your spiritual maturity?

I hope to love better, forgive easier, judge less, pray more, walk closer with God, help others more, become more humble, be more kind and gentle and love God with all of of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I hope to love others as much as I love myself.

Honoring God and loving others is a beautiful way to live. It pleases God and it ministeres to others. There’s nothing like it.

And when I mess up, I’ll draw a line, write “start” and try my best to finish well. I hope to do this over and over until God takes me home.

What about you?

LORD, help us to know your word, live your word, and confess, repent and seek forgiveness when we fail. Thank you for Jesus Christ and the solution that He provides for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. IJNIP amen ♥️