STRIVING TOWARDS SPIRITUAL MATURITY & INDEPENDENCE - PART I

It is a great day of rejoicing when our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus and a new life ensues (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4); not forgetting the conviction and commitment we made towards God that day. 

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby one grows to be more like Christ each day. It is God’s desire that we grow spiritually so that we can cope with the challenges and vicissitudes of life (Ephesians 4:14-15). Apostle Paul cautioned against spiritual immaturity in Hebrews 5:12-14.  A “babe” in Christ who cannot discern both good and evil is vulnerable to the “arsenals” hurled at him or her from the devil and the world. There must be an earnest desire to want to grow and better oneself spiritually (1 Peter 2:12). A concern with the spiritual over the physical is a mark of true Christian spirituality.  

Firstly, we need to realize that our Christian faith and attitudes are closely related to one another. Faith determines our attitude towards God, our brethren and the world around us. We need proper attitudes to overcome the inward conflicts of the soul and live a life pleasing in God’s sight.  

Abraham is called “a man of faith” yet he told a lie. King David is “a man after God’s heart” yet he committed adultery. Thus, our attitudes, determined by faith, also determine the CHOICES that we make. 

As we grow spiritually, there must be an inner urge to PUT OFF the “old self of sinful influences and deceitful desires” (Colossians 3:5-9) to align with God’s purpose and will for us. We are to PUT ON the “new man”, that is, our Lord Jesus and “make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust.” (Romans 13:14)  We must make it a spiritual habit to consciously devote ourselves to the study of God’s Word daily - to read it; be actively engaged in it; meditate on its teachings and allow them to shape our thoughts, beliefs and behaviour in alignment with God’s will (Joshua 1:7-8). “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” (Proverbs 1:5)

“Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4) When we delight in God, our desires “TRANSFORM”.  They align with His will, bear fruit and bring on JOY, not because of what we achieve but because of the relationship we cultivate with Him. 

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

“The new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”(Colossians 3:10) She strives to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life in obedience to God’s commandments (Titus 2:12-14) and knows the importance of staying CONNECTED to God because it is only IN HIM that life exists and eternity exudes. 

Secondly, how deep is your relationship with God? Are your love and attitudes towards God one of complete TRUST, LOYALTY and DEPENDENCE? Do you trust Him enough to let Him lead your paths and bear your burdens? Our trust in God will be reflected in our attitudes and actions shown during trials and testing in our walk with Him.

Job’s deep faith and trust in God and his reaction to all his sufferings is a great example for us. 

“He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” 

Is our faith rooted deep enough in God like Job that even in times of great loss , pain and sufferings, we still believe in God’s presence and deliverance? 

Loving God means acknowledging His presence in everything that you do. It is all about building a RELATIONSHIP with him. And that relationship will not grow if you stop spending time with Him after baptism. It is a daily decision you need to make and a commitment that is not just based on feelings. When you choose to love God intentionally and CONNECT to him every day, you’ll seek His guidance, knowing apart from Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5). 

Your desire to please Him will override your desire to please your carnal nature. And as you keep making the right decisions and going in the right direction, you will gain spiritual strength and slowly see yourself transformed through His love and Word.  Follow God’s words and choose to ABIDE in His ways always because at the end of the day, everything He wants us to do is for our own good (Romans 8:28). 

TRUST in the Lord is therefore not passive! It is an ACTIVE CHOICE to lean on Him, to seek him in prayer and to rest on His promises. It is the courage to believe that even when we cannot see the way forward, He is already making a path for us. So, fix your eyes and heart on Him and find PEACE for when we do so, we will be unshaken by the chaos around us because God’s faithfulness is steadfast and unchanging (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 112:7). 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose confidence is in the Lord. For He will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes.” (Jeremiah 27:7-8)

This passage compares a person who trusts in the Lord to a tree planted by the waters.  This tree thrives because it has access to a constant source of nourishment, just as a person who trusts in God, finds strength and stability in his faith from God’s word.

Thus, we are encouraged to cultivate a deep and abiding trust in God and when we do, we will find strength, peace and purpose in our lives regardless of the circumstances we face along the way. 

Thirdly, have we ever “consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity but towards you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness.“ (Romans 11:22)?  Our God is a loving and merciful God but He is also a just and jealous God (Nahum 1:2; 1 John 1:9). 

A man who fears the Lord is one who obeys His words; lives and serves Him with all his heart, soul and mind (Deuteronomy 10:12). Obedience is the outward evidence of the fear of God. God expects us to have an attitude of obedience so that we can bear fruit and live life abundantly. Failing to do so, we may be “cast out as a branch…gathered….and thrown into the fire and burned.”  (Romans 15:1-8).  

A mature Christian will strive to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12). The fear of God will prevent her from sinning and inactivity because she knows that her time is in God’s hands and at His appointed time and His designated way, she will one day step into His eternal presence! She is also fully aware that whatever decisions she makes, there will be consequences especially those pertaining to eternal destiny. 

God does not require perfection from us but He does expect us to spend more time in His presence, through prayer, Bible study, thoughts and worship, in order to know Him more and fulfill His purpose through us. 

One of the requirements as His children is to glorify Him by our worship as a congregation. We do not go to church just to hear a sermon. We go to church to worship God. Worship is recognizing God for who He is - Creator of the whole universe and mankind! (Revelation 14:7; Psalm 66: 1-4) How can we miss such an opportunity to pay our deep, sincere and awesome respect, love and fear to the One who created and redeemed us from our sins through the sacrifice of His Son? 

Why does worship play such an important part in a Christian’s life? Our worship not only honors and magnifies God but it is also for our own edification and strength. We come together to build up one another spiritually through singing hymns (Colossians 3:16) and listening to preachers sharing God’s word (Acts 20:6-7; 1 Corinthians 14:40). We cannot provoke each other to love and good works unless we meet and are side by side in person (Hebrews 10:23-25). Coming together frequently also prevents hearts from being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin in the world (Hebrews 3:13-14). We also have the obligation and responsibility to do our part to serve and contribute to the overall growth and edification of the whole “body”- the church (Ephesians 4:13, 11-16; Romans 14:19).

Thus, a mature and respectful child of God will make every effort to make worship a priority, knowing that she will be strengthened by both the corporate worship and time spent with the brethren. On the contrary, her absence will show a lack of love and respect for our heavenly Father and a discouragement to her fellow brethren. 

Fourthly, our main task on Earth is not only to worship God but to bring the good news of salvation to others (Christ’s death, burial and resurrection). With blessings comes RESPONSIBILITIES too! We are God’s representatives to people around us and so we have a responsibility to tell the Gospel with our mouths and show the Gospel with our lives (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20). 

A faithful and mature Christian does not just say she believes. They try to live so that others can see the HOPE and JOY that comes from knowing Jesus. Your life is a living epistle of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). If we don’t tell them about God’s love and offer of salvation, then who will? They need to hear and know that God has a purpose for them and wants them to be part of His family. He wants us to learn to be more like Him so that we can show others what He is like - forgiving, compassionate, patient and faithful.  If we do and live so, then people who are not believers will respect you (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Let the Holy Spirit help and direct you through the word of God to shine the Light of Christ to others. Hide not this light of hope and salvation! The truth of the Gospel is the meaning of salvation (1 Timothy 4:16). The more we learn, obey and preach the Gospel, the stronger we will be as Christians in our own personal struggle to be faithful and to reach Heaven. Also, we will be more effective in helping other men to enter and continue in the way of salvation. 

Fifthly, cultivating and developing a “persevering spirit” is also very important and necessary in our striving towards spiritual maturity.

It is very easy to become tired and discouraged by the things or people around us.  Sometimes the burdens and responsibilities we bear each day can be so heavy that we might feel like giving up. Trials and worldly distractions can be “faith-killers” too. Jesus never promised that the Christian race is going to be a bed of roses but He understands our struggles and afflictions and assures us of His strength and comfort (Hebrews 4:15).  It is thus very important to remain connected to Jesus; talking to God through prayers; engaging with the word and participating in worship and service in the church. In this way, we can find strength to persevere and grow in Him because we are not alone! 

Perseverance is the unwavering commitment to a goal, the grit that propels us forward even when faced with daunting challenges. When you’re clear about your “why”, your purpose becomes the “ANCHOR” of your perseverance, guiding you through the most turbulent seas on your journey towards the heavenly goal and spiritual success. 

In the Bible, perseverance is often associated with faith, hope and the pursuit of God’s promises. 

Focusing on the eternal perspective (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:19-21; 1 John 2:15-17) and having a firm belief in God’s faithfulness and His promises will make our struggles meaningful and easier to bear. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” (Romans 5:3) In fact, God uses our challenges as opportunities to grow closer to Him as we lean on Him for strength and guidance.  

There is divine strength in trusting the Lord - a PEACE that cannot be shaken even when storms rage or shadows loom. In a world of uncertainty, Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that fear and worries have no dominion over a heart anchored in unwavering faith and fervent prayers. Our Captain calms not just the seas but the very depths of our soul. What a beautiful and assuring reminder!  

God knows the desires of our hearts and what will truly cause us to be happy.  Therefore, trust Him to bless us in our lives, our marriage and every day; letting go of our attempts at seeking or creating what we hope will become happiness or success.  This requires us to REST in the knowledge that God’s hands and His heart are bigger than our own. The story of Hannah is a lesson on spiritual endurance and unwavering faith in God as she prayed fervently for a child and God granted her request (1 Samuel 1:2 - 2:21).

A joyful and grateful mindset helps one to face life’s trials and obstacles positively too.  Recalling past perseverance and blessings from God reminds us that God is always with us to help us cope and overcome. Building a close bond with fellow brethren provides the support system in times of need. Collective prayers are effective and powerful too!

Galatians 6:9 encourages and motivates us to press on, knowing that His grace is sufficient for us to tide over any obstacle along the way. 

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9). “Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 14:11)

To be continued....