Maturity
Image: Marek Studzinski on Unsplash
At what moment in your life, did you feel like you were an adult? I was once asked this intriguing question, which got me thinking…
Was it when I got my first pay check in my first job?
Was it when I passed my driving test?
Was it when I wasn’t asked for ID when ordering a beer in a pub?
No, it was none of these. My ‘moment’, when I thought, ‘I’m an adult now’, was when I got engaged. I was 23, and I vividly remember feeling very grown up all of a sudden.
I may have felt that then, but when I think back, I was not very mature! Fortunately, that has changed over time!
The Bible talks about spiritual maturity. It is a main theme for the New Testament writers. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul explained why they should become mature…
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Paul taught that it was important for the believers to become secure, confident and well balanced in God.
As they became strong in God, understood His ways and lived like Jesus they would be unshakable and mature.
Today, there is a lot of noise. Many voices compete for our attention which can be quite overwhelming and confusing, resulting in anxiety, stress and worry.
With the recent fears expressed over AI, it is becoming even harder to know what is being said is true, and can we trust it?
It seems to me, that what Paul wrote back then, is still relevant today. I have found that focusing on my relationship with God has strengthened my faith, my foundations are secure and I can be confident in Him.
As I have got older, I am more of a ‘balanced’ Christian now. I can see that in how I view, listen, discern, respond (or not), in all aspects of life.
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader