As we wind up this journey of growth and maturity in life we will look at the most important aspect of the journey. We weren’t meant to travel alone! We can’t grow any more on our own than our bodies can grow without food. We need help from each other. We need to care for each other. We need to encourage each other. We need to be accountable to each other, to study together, to share life together.
Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Even more importantly, we need help from God to grow in spiritual maturity.
Romans 12:2 (TNIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
This is what it really all comes down to. The spiritual growth that really matters isn’t the growth that we achieve on our own, it’s the growth that God Himself works in our lives. This means we need to be open to Him, obedient to Him, and available for Him to do whatever He wants to do in our lives.
And finally, here are some tips on growing and maturing in Christ and not just sitting stagnant spiritually in our lives: READ YOUR BIBLE. Not just on Sunday, read a little each day throughout the week. Maybe just 5-10 minutes, 4-5 times a week. Start in the New Testament, the book of John or James, or the Old Testament, Proverbs. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll get out of it.
Discuss what you learn with others. ASK QUESTIONS! Seek answers! Get involved in a Bible study of some sort. Most importantly, apply those things you learn when you study!
TALK WITH GOD. Spend time in prayer. Figure out when this will best work for you: First thing in the morning? During a break at work? Driving in your car (with your eyes open, hello)? Before going to bed? More importantly, pray sporadically during the day. Our life should become a conversation with God as our Father. Pick a time during your day to spend more than a few seconds intentionally talking with God.
SERVE OTHERS. Both inside the church family as well as outside the church family.
PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH. Do you know what this means? “Ekklesia“, the Greek word translated as church, is a group of called out PEOPLE. Church is not the building, but it is the gathering of people who are called out to be used by God in the restoration of this world.
At this point in the Scriptures the writer of Hebrews simply tells us that once the foundation is laid that we need to move on and grow and mature.
I want to leave you with this thought out of the book of James:
James 1:22-25 22 (TNIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Those who listen to the word but do not do what it says are like people who look at their faces in a mirror 24 and, after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like. 25 But those who look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continue in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do.
Amen Jan – well put … and those are some of my favorite verses in Romans ad James
They are two of my favorite verses too Eric 🙂 God bless ya bro!