Grow Up to Him
Dr. John K. Mathew
We live in a time when people attain physical maturity at an early age.
A recent study reveals this clearly when it describes children's maturity age today is two to five years earlier than it was in the past.
The age of puberty is has lowered. In the last century, human growth continued to an average age of twenty six years. Now the growth stops at an average age of seventeen or eighteen. Children are becoming more aware of their physical and sexual world at an earlier age". (K.V.Simon) Physical maturity doesn’t guarantee spiritual maturity, because it is not an aging process. Gray hair and spiritual maturity are not necessarily wedded. Spiritual maturity is not gaining knowledge. Knowledge is important. More important is what we do with what we know. Spiritual maturity is achieved through becoming more like Jesus. It is an ongoing process of surrender and obedience. In the words of Emilson Richardson, "A person who is spiritually mature is Christ like in character.” A spiritually mature person demonstrate Christ likeness through humility, love for others, a sensitive heart for God, a concern for God's truth, a motivation for God’s concern, growing by suffering and doing what is good.
How can we attain spiritual maturity and Christ likeness in character? Apostle Paul lists number of things for us to follow in Philippians chapter 3. It reads, 'But whatever were gain to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more? I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead."(7-11) Then he says, all of us who want to be mature should take such a view of things. It begins with our willingness to die with Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, 'Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.'(John 12;24) What are the marks of spiritual maturity? A spiritually mature person is humble in behavior. He will always maintain a forgiving spirit and control over his tongue. Fully trusting the Lord. Spiritual maturity is not obtained overnight. It is an ongoing process of surrender and commitment. Whatever it takes, we must grow up in to Him, in all things.
