A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture of The Day
July 26, 2021
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(I Corinthians 13:11)
By Ed Henderson (2015)
The Bible plainly outlines a spiritual growth and maturing process for all born-again believers. We start as a baby, just like we do in our natural life: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (I Peter 2:2) As we grow, we experience life. Some of the things we experience in life are good and some things are not so good. We are constantly being faced with how to react to the challenges. We have choices to react with grace or anger, with forgiveness or bitterness, and with love or hatred. James put it like this: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (complete, of full age, mature) and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
There is a clear process set forth in the Bible for maturity. There is an ultimate goal. Peter described it as follows:
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (lust). For this very reason, make every effort
to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their pastsins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:3-11, NIV)
We start as babies with simple faith. As we feed on His Word, gain knowledge, and act on the Word, we add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love. It is like a set of maturity stepping stones which lead to the ultimate goal of love. But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13, ASV)
One of the secrets in this process is to never forget where we came from. Peter says we are nearsighted and blind if we forget how filthy we were when we were first saved by grace. If we forget where we came from it is very easy to become judgmental, hardhearted and unforgiving toward others. We tend to lose our compassion and can easily become too impressed with ourselves.
When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee lawyer what was the most important commandment, His response was as follows: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)
Love is the ultimate litmus test to maturity for a Christian so let’s shoot for that as our goal in life. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (II Peter 3:18)
