Maturity

Monday August 9, 2021

A person who is said to be “mature” is usually productive and effective in the community and, with the knowledge they have gained, their stability improves as they grow closer to God. In the past many of us have been called immature because the knowledge we had did not lead us to participate in things that improved our own lives or made a positive contribution to the lives of others. If we are to reach maturity, we will need to faithfully follow God’s principles in all our affairs.

I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. If you don’t remain joined to me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. (John 15:5-6a NIRV)

A gardener will prune the branches of a grapevine so that the vine will not develop more grape clusters than it can feed. Effective pruning also forces the vine to grow in a shape that is helpful for harvesting. When we ask God to remove our defects of character, we are pruning those things that hinder our growth in our new life. As we put God’s principles into effect, we will grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. This is the route to maturity and to producing much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me. (John 15:3-4 NIRV)

Those of us who have had a spiritual awakening know that we must grow in the knowledge of God’s Word and continue to obey what God says. To help us do that we must have conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation on the Scriptures, and we must intentionally seek God’s will for our lives and ask Him for the power to carry it out. This is the way to maturity and God’s blessing in our lives.

All these things should describe you more and more. They will make you useful and fruitful as you know our Lord Jesus Christ better. (2 Peter 1:8 NIRV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to let go of anything that would hinder my conscious contact with You or my goal to gain understanding of the Scriptures. My desire is to know Your will for my life and have the Power to carry it out. I want to bear much fruit for Your Kingdom. Amen

Maturity

Audio for Maturity

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