Maturity

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Wednesday April 30, 2008

We've all heard of the parable of the sewer, but lets look at just one part of it:

Luke 8:14,15 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
14. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not MATURE. 15. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Jesus told us in verse 14 that spiritual maturity is held back by life's worries, riches, and pleasures! Jesus also said that those with a "noble and good heart" persevere at hearing and retaining the Word Of God given to them!
In other words, when people give worries, riches, and pleasures more importance than persevering at retaining the Word Of God given to them, they do not mature!

Many Christians go through their entire lives without ever spiritually maturing, because their focus is on life's worries, riches, and pleasures! In other words, their focus is on themselves! If your focus is on riches and pleasures, you can only be thinking of yourself!

When we learn to give the Word Of God first place in our lives, and persevere at doing so, we begin to mature! The whole reason God gave the five fold ministry to the church was so we would grow in the Word and MATURE!

Ephesians 4:11-15 (NIV)
11. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12. to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Notice that God's people are always being prepared for works of SERVICE! We are on this planet to serve others, thus being a mirror of what Jesus would do if He were personally here!

Philippians 3:13-16 (NIV)
13. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Here Paul talks about "straining toward what is ahead", and "pressing on", much like Jesus said "persevering" in the parable of the sewer! Then James says essentially the same thing:

James 1:4 (NIV)
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We become mature through perseverence; through pressing forward in receiving God's Word and acting on it on a regular basis! Then we are the good soil that Jesus was talking about! If our focus is on ourselves, we are not looking at the Word of God, but at circumstances and problems and worries!

Let's keep our eyes in the right place!

2 Corinthians 4:17,18 (NIV)
17. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 12:2,3 (NIV)
2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your awesome Word. Help me to persevere at receiving and acting on Your Word, that I may benefit others instead of just thinking of myself! Help me understand Your Word better so I can let Your ways govern my life.
In Jesus' Name, Amen

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