MATURITY

A person who is said to be “mature” is usually productive and effective in their community.  With the knowledge they have gained from life’s situations and their obedience to God’s Word, they grow closer with God and their overall stability in life improves.  In the past many of us were called immature because the knowledge we gained did not lead to our participation in things that improved our lives or helped us make a positive contribution to the lives of others.  If we are to reach maturity, we 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 clusters to grow in a way that is helpful for harvesting.  When we ask God to remove our defects of character, we are pruning those things that hinder our effectiveness for God’s Kingdom and our growth. As we put God’s principles into effect, we will grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. 

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 our knowledge of God’s Word and continue to obey what God says.  To help us do that, we have conscious contact with God through prayer and meditation on the Scriptures.  We also seek to know God’s will for our lives and have 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 be useful and fruitful for Your Kingdom.  Amen