Seven Indicators of a Maturing Christian
Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Yes, there is hope for me and you! Look at the word of God offered here and receive its investment in your growth as a maturing Christian!
A Quiet Orderly Life
1st Thessalonians 4:11
“…make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you.” Amplified
Nothing displays the beauty of a maturing Christian better that one who has a quiet and orderly life. It demonstrates grace. It displays peace. It showcases that the life of Christ is so active in him that it is visible and evident to the world. The “busyness” of this world promotes disorder and chaos in daily activities. Some think they are not “living” if this “busyness” is not a part of their demeanor. They show the world their value by excessive involvement in many things that God has not ordered or sanctioned. Cultivate “quiet”.
A Hatred of the World, Its System, Focus, and Things
1st John 2:15
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” KJ
Three things demonstrate that a Christian is maturing in the grace to live the life of Christ. There is hatred and shunning of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Any Believer who entangles himself with the world, its systems, its focus, its solutions, and its temporal things ends up being void of doing the will of God. The maturing Believer quickly identifies the futility of the systems and answers that the world offers. If your focus is “my next achievement, my next thrill, my next material thing, my next trip, etc.”, then the world has captured your heart. This will lead you to an emptiness that grows increasingly as the years go by. Greed for the world and its systems and pleasures shuts down maturity in the life of a Believer. Cultivate a hatred for what God hates and a love for what He loves (people).
A Contented Unshakable Life
1st Timothy 6:6
“…Godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.” Amplified
Maturing Christians realize that the only things that can transition into Eternity are the lives we live for God here on earth. No material thing or relationship for which we strive accompanies us as we exit this earthly life. One day, we awake, look at our earthly possessions and realize that all of these things are indeed temporal. They stay here and do not produce fruit for Eternity. Use possessions to further the gospel and kingdom of God. Cultivate Contentment.
An Abiding Rest in Spirit, Soul, & Body
Hebrews 4th Chapter
Verse 10, “For he who has once entered God’s rest has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.” Amplified
Restlessness is an indicator of emptiness, fear, and wrong focus. Jesus is not Lord where restlessness abides. The Believer who is content, resting only in God depends solely upon God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, provide, comfort, and protect. There is no expectation or demands made upon family, friends, associates, governments, etc.
This freedom to be led only by God’s Holy Spirit positions a Believer for the ultimate life of contentment. Doubt and unbelief kept God’s people in times past from entering in to His rest. Do not let this happen to you. The maturing Christian rests in God’s leading and the finished work of the cross by Jesus Christ to accomplish His plan in their lives. Works of the flesh cannot give birth to spiritual fruit that is necessary in the life of a maturing Christian. Cultivate “Rest”.
An Unrelenting Love for God and Others
Matthew 22:37-38
“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.” Amplified
If love is not present in your heart for God and all human beings, you are not of God (1st John 4:7-8, 1st Corinthians 13th Chapter). This is a place of no compromise. If you hate, do not forgive, and persecute others, you are not a Christian. Every man who “knows” God loves Him and all people. Cultivate Love for God and People.
A Submission to the Death of Self Process
Hebrews 12: 5-11
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges, every son who He receives…” KJ
God deals with every Christian in conforming to the image of Christ. This is a process by which self is dethroned and Jesus is made Lord over the life of the Believer. This process takes time. The Holy Spirit is the One who leads & guides us in this transformation. This death of self process is because God desires that we not make a “god” of self. Cultivate “Dying to Self”.
An Increasingly Peculiar Life
Titus 2:14
“Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds.” Amplified
1st Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” KJ Cultivate the “Peculiar Life” God has for every Believer for Eternity!
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