Philippians 3:15-16
My husband is the biggest goofball I know! From the moment I met him, I couldn’t stop laughing. When it’s just us two, there is a comfortable side of him that’s much different than his professional self. I joke around that he’s still a kid, just a big kid. When it’s time to be serious though, Brandon can get the job done. As a volunteer in the children's ministry at Emmanuel, he literally worked himself into a job. He was always willing to help, going above and beyond. For those who don’t know, he even volunteered to lead the children's ministry at our Grand Blanc campus for the first two years. He literally served in a ministry for two years on Sundays without a break. Why? Because he was committed. When we adopted Great Lakes Baptist Temple as Emmanuel's second campus, there was no children's ministry. For the future of Emmanuel Grand Blanc, someone had to step up and lead this ministry! Thankfully, as many of you know, he is now on staff and getting paid for his efforts, but in a new role as Campus Director. But for TWO YEARS he sacrificed his Sunday mornings for that ministry to flourish. Sure, I joke that he can be immature, but he has spiritual maturity. He sees the vision of Emmanuel. He is the most selfless person I know. He continues to grow in his walk with God.
Just as in my example with my husband, there is a time and a place to be immature. When we joke around and are silly, that is all fun and games. When it comes to our walk with Christ, immaturity is not something we want to be known for.
We see reminders in scripture all the time for being mature. 1 Corinthians 13:9-11 talks about putting away childish things and becoming a man. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 14:20 Paul urges us to stop thinking like children and to think like adults. Think of your journey so far as a child of God. I bet you know more now than you did 5 years ago, at least I hope you do! In verse 16 of our verse today, Paul is reminding us to live in a way that reflects what we have learned. The more we read the Bible, the more we understand how we ought to live! If you wear the name “Christian” and are immature in the things of God, what are you even doing? To bear that name is not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, many claim to be about God but are spiritually immature. Let that not be said of us! Matthew 5:48 says “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” WOAH! That's a high standard. God literally wants us to be like him! That is why we are here in the first place, to imitate Jesus and make disciples after all! But really, be perfect? What about the verse that says we all fall short? It’s important to note, the word perfect is actually talking about maturity! It’s literally sprinkled all over the New Testament, that we should be mature! We need to live what we know! Living lives that are consistent with our spiritual progress. Everything you have learned, what are you doing with it? I hope you’re not being stagnant. I hope you’re growing to know, love, and imitate our savior. It’s not easy, but it’s God’s standard for our lives, and he always knows best.
My husband is the biggest goofball I know! From the moment I met him, I couldn’t stop laughing. When it’s just us two, there is a comfortable side of him that’s much different than his professional self. I joke around that he’s still a kid, just a big kid. When it’s time to be serious though, Brandon can get the job done. As a volunteer in the children's ministry at Emmanuel, he literally worked himself into a job. He was always willing to help, going above and beyond. For those who don’t know, he even volunteered to lead the children's ministry at our Grand Blanc campus for the first two years. He literally served in a ministry for two years on Sundays without a break. Why? Because he was committed. When we adopted Great Lakes Baptist Temple as Emmanuel's second campus, there was no children's ministry. For the future of Emmanuel Grand Blanc, someone had to step up and lead this ministry! Thankfully, as many of you know, he is now on staff and getting paid for his efforts, but in a new role as Campus Director. But for TWO YEARS he sacrificed his Sunday mornings for that ministry to flourish. Sure, I joke that he can be immature, but he has spiritual maturity. He sees the vision of Emmanuel. He is the most selfless person I know. He continues to grow in his walk with God.
Just as in my example with my husband, there is a time and a place to be immature. When we joke around and are silly, that is all fun and games. When it comes to our walk with Christ, immaturity is not something we want to be known for.
We see reminders in scripture all the time for being mature. 1 Corinthians 13:9-11 talks about putting away childish things and becoming a man. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 14:20 Paul urges us to stop thinking like children and to think like adults. Think of your journey so far as a child of God. I bet you know more now than you did 5 years ago, at least I hope you do! In verse 16 of our verse today, Paul is reminding us to live in a way that reflects what we have learned. The more we read the Bible, the more we understand how we ought to live! If you wear the name “Christian” and are immature in the things of God, what are you even doing? To bear that name is not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, many claim to be about God but are spiritually immature. Let that not be said of us! Matthew 5:48 says “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” WOAH! That's a high standard. God literally wants us to be like him! That is why we are here in the first place, to imitate Jesus and make disciples after all! But really, be perfect? What about the verse that says we all fall short? It’s important to note, the word perfect is actually talking about maturity! It’s literally sprinkled all over the New Testament, that we should be mature! We need to live what we know! Living lives that are consistent with our spiritual progress. Everything you have learned, what are you doing with it? I hope you’re not being stagnant. I hope you’re growing to know, love, and imitate our savior. It’s not easy, but it’s God’s standard for our lives, and he always knows best.
Posted in Devotional