Tag: maturity

  • Spiritual Maturity: A Beauty That Grows

    Lakeshore under a gray sky with willow branches, reeds topped with dark seed heads, purple and white clover, purple thistle, yellow stinkweed and browning amaranth beside gray water, a small mud flat and trees across the lake.

    The sky was gray; a light drizzle was falling, and the water on the lake looked cold as the wind blew across it. I stopped for a few minutes and savored the scene’s beauty. Gray sky, drizzle, and cold water might not sound attractive, but there was beauty to behold. 

    The water was gray, reflecting the dreary sky above, but it had a subtle appeal all its own. As I watched the waves break on the shore, I was struck by autumn’s deep colors. Tucked in behind some grasses and reeds, a small mud flat was visible. It was the color of a deep, rich cocoa. 

    The reeds were a deep green and topped with dark seed heads. The grasses were green, turning yellow, then brown. The amaranth heads were turning from vivid red to chocolate. 

    The clover added subtle shades of purple and white. The thistle added even more purple/ Scattered stinkweed plants added a subtler yellow to highlight the scene. The silvery, green leaves of a willow gently caressed the tops of a clump of grass as it swayed in the breeze. 

    The waves, the wind rustling the grasses, and the quivering willow leaves combined into a wonderful symphony of nature. The sound was punctuated now and then by the quack of some ducks swimming on the leeward side of the island. It was a perfect accompaniment to the scene my eyes were taking in. 

    It really was magnificent when I stopped to look and listen. It wasn’t the bright, vibrant beauty of summer or the crisp freshness of spring, but it was stately, subtle, rich and deep. 

    People are the same way. We have the fresh beauty of young babies, the vibrancy of youth and the richness of maturity. The delineations aren’t clear-cut as we slip from one phase to the next, but they are there. 

    A similar thing happens when we come to know Christ. There’s the joy of first discovering the love of one who loves you as much as He does. There’s the unabashed vibrancy of newly fired young Christians who are off to save the world and the wonderful, deep, committed faith and ministry of mature Christians. 

    Few things are sadder to me than seeing a person come to life as a baby Christian, then wither away as a pew warmer not growing in their faith. They seem to view their salvation as the goal not understanding that it’s merely the opening of the door to a wonderful journey. The beauty of their maturing is lost. 

    Being a Christian is a process. It should never be stagnant. As we know and love the Lord more, we spend more time in His Word and ministering in His name. As we do that, we get to know and love Him more. We are called to maturity. 

    But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 ESV

     Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.  1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

    There is an incredible beauty in a deep committed relationship with Jesus Christ. A beauty that grows as the relationship matures. A faith that has been tested and knows God’s steadfast faithfulness is one of the most beautiful things in all of creation. 

    Until next time, may your relationship with the Living God grow deeper every day. 

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    There is an incredible beauty in a relationship with Jesus Christ that grows as it matures. May your relationship with the Living God grow deeper every day.

    TAKEAWAY

    Salvation isn’t the goal. It’s the opening of the door to a journey.

    Being a Christian is a process. It should never be stagnant.

    A tested faith is beautiful. That beauty grows as the relationship matures.

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  • Growing in Character

    gnarled old tree

    I’ve always enjoyed trees with character. You know  them—old, gnarled, and still going strong, like the one in this photo. They have defied the odds and the ravages of the years. 

    Getting older always carries some scars and disappointments. There is a pervasive lie circulating in our society. It tells us that once we have hit “retirement age,” our usefulness is done, and our role is to spend the balance of our lives in some form of recreation and play.

    It’s even visible in the church. Far too many people tell me they have served their time and will not be ministering to others. They have hit their magical retirement age and quit contributing.

    Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing wrong with a round of golf or a day of fishing, but we got to be older for a much larger purpose.

    As we’ve aged and experienced our share of health and other issues, indeed, we can’t do everything we used to, and we are certainly slower. We might have more in common with the gnarled old tree than one in its prime.

    Yet, we are still called to serve, give, and love. Ministry has no upper age limit. By God’s grace, we have been given some modicum of wisdom and experience that younger folks can benefit from. Let’s use that.

    That doesn’t mean we tell all the young folks how to do it, or insist that the church music never changes. We don’t become curmudgeons who rejoice in telling everyone how it was different in our day.

    We do it by seeking to glorify the Lord every day. We build relationships with younger generations and mentor. We do the tasks that we can do. We encourage. We pray.

    The psalmist proclaims,

    “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?” Psalm 71:18 ESV

    Not everyone makes it this far. It is a gift and a privilege, and isn’t always easy. Yet God has allowed it for a reason.

    Be a person of true character. Live a righteous life, even in your later years, and serve the Lord always.

    Let us boldly proclaim God to the next generations.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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