Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
There is time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
There are no short cuts to maturity. When we try to ripen fruit quickly, it losses its favor. While we worry about how fast we grow, God is concerned about how strong we grow.
Before Christ "invades" our lives at conversion, He sometimes has to "soften us up" by allowing problems we can't handle. The moment we open ourselves to Christ, God gets a "beachhead" in our life. We may think we have surrendered all our life to Him, but the truth is, there's a lot to our like that we aren't even aware of. Once Christ is given a beachhead, He begins the campaign to take over more and more territory until all of our life is completely His. There will be struggles and battles, but the outcome will never be in doubt.
Discipleship is the process of conforming to Christ. Christlikeness is our eventual destination, but our journey will last a life time.
Ephesians 4:13
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.
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.
So far we have seen that this journey involves believing (through worship), belonging (through fellowship) and becoming (through discipleship).
Colossians 3:10
Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its creator.
Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge and in the image of its creator.
Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. Real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual.
2 Conrinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed in to His likeness will ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed in to His likeness will ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Why does it take so long?
1. We are slow learners
We often have to relearn a lesson 40 or 50 times to really get it. We need repeated exposure.
1. We are slow learners
We often have to relearn a lesson 40 or 50 times to really get it. We need repeated exposure.
2. We have a lot to unlearn
Since most of our problems and all of our bad habits didnt develop overnight, it's unrealistic to expect them to go away immediately.
Since most of our problems and all of our bad habits didnt develop overnight, it's unrealistic to expect them to go away immediately.
3. We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves
The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of His truth on our faults, failures and hang ups can we begin to work on them. That is why we cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.
The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of His truth on our faults, failures and hang ups can we begin to work on them. That is why we cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.
4. Growth is often painful and scary
There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habits, my hurt or my hang ups, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down our growth.
There is no growth without change; there is no change without fear or loss; and there is no loss without pain. The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habits, my hurt or my hang ups, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down our growth.
5. Habits take time to develop
Remember that our character is the sum total of our habits. There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them - and that takes time! There are no instant habits!
Remember that our character is the sum total of our habits. There is only one way to develop the habits of Christlike character: You must practice them - and that takes time! There are no instant habits!
1 Timothy 4:15
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
If you practice something over time, you get good at it.
Repetition is the mother of character and skill.
These character-building habits are often called "spiritual disciplines".
Repetition is the mother of character and skill.
These character-building habits are often called "spiritual disciplines".
Don't get in a hurry
As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process.
1. Believe God is working in your life even when we don't feel it
Sometimes we will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).
As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process.
1. Believe God is working in your life even when we don't feel it
Sometimes we will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).
2. Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned
This is not a diary of events, but a record of what I am learning. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches about Him, about myself, about life, relationships and everything else. Reviewing of my spiritual journey/journal regularly can spare me a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.
This is not a diary of events, but a record of what I am learning. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches about Him, about myself, about life, relationships and everything else. Reviewing of my spiritual journey/journal regularly can spare me a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache.
Hebrews 1:2
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
3. Be patient with God and with myself
One of life;s frustration is that God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn't. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process.
One of life;s frustration is that God's timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn't. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process.
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
4. Don't get discouraged
A delay is not a denial from God.
Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. God isn't finished with you yet, so keep on moving forward!
A delay is not a denial from God.
Remember how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. God isn't finished with you yet, so keep on moving forward!
Point to ponder: There are no shortcuts to maturity.
Verse to remember: Philippians 1:6
Being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Being confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Question to consider:
In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
Learning and meditating on the Word.
In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
Learning and meditating on the Word.
No comments:
Post a Comment