VOTD

The Peace Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.21.16

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Mature Christians are at peace with situations beyond their control. This may be one of the more underrated measures of spiritual maturity. Just Google CNN, BBC or some other news outlet. You probably watched or read stories about terrorists, wars, famine and the downward spiral of political leaders and everything in between.

Are we living in hard times? Undoubtedly. Are the acts reported on the news awful? Often they are beyond awful, they are heinous. But mature Christians’ lives and peace are not derailed by latest buzz on the news. They don’t waste time worrying and coming unglued over situations beyond their control. (more…)

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The Recognition Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.20.16

Many even among the leaders believed in him (Jesus). But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. John 12:42,43

The Bible consistently presents God to us as a Father. And I don’t know any father who doesn’t like seeing his children recognized for their achievements or honored in their triumphs. I suspect God is the same way. But the praise and recognition of others is easily intoxicating. Often (usually?) it is delightful to our ears, because we like being recognized favorably so much that negative opinions others have of us or our opinions irk us—they keep us awake at night. As a result, we often make choices that are driven by the approval of people more than the approval of God (John 12:43).

When talented or popular people look in the mirror, they’re tempted to see someone who has arrived because other people treat them as if they’re someone special. But in the ‘mirror’ of the Bible we see that we all have fallen short of glory—the kind of glory that matters (Rom 3:23). (more…)

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One Day – VOTD.06.16.16

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church.   Ephesians 3:20

On the day of Pentecost, suddenly while the disciples were together in one place praying for the coming of the Spirit, the wind blew–the house was filled with the fire of God. The Holy Spirit came upon the people there. What did they do?

Well, there was one man there who 3-years earlier had been told he’d be a fisher of men—he’d be called an evangelist in our day. He hung in there for 3 years with no record of him winning a single soul to the Lord. Then suddenly one day the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit fell on Peter and he preached a sermon and 3000 people got saved.

In one day when the heavens opened Peter moved out. We really don’t know what happened to anyone else, personally, but we’re told about Peter. Maybe what happened to the other 119 people in the upper room was just spectacular, maybe they were out winning souls, themselves. (more…)

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The Respect Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.14.16

Be devoted to one another in love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Spiritual maturity is not the display of our gift, but the way we love. You don’t have to look hard to find people who are profoundly gifted but lack love; even common curtesy seems to elude them. Maturity isn’t about impressive positions in ministry/ politics/ business or power or influence or any of those things that people look up to.

Respect is simply how we treat the people around us—figuring out what makes them feel valued or cared for and treating them that way. Which brings us to relationships. (more…)

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VOTD.06.13.16 The Stability Measure: Maturity

Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.  Genesis 19:14

We’ve been talking about mileposts on the journey of Christian maturity. Milestones like childlike-ness, the highs and lows of life don’t impact the quality of our walk with God, faith, self respect, worship… I need to point out that all these attributes are Christian-character traits. They are things that we as Christians ought to live out. But they aren’t a checklist. They aren’t things that we do to be mature Christians. Just the other way around: they are life-attributes of mature Christians. The difference? One flows out of our efforts, the other flows out of our character. These often take some time to establish. (more…)

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VOTD.06.07.16 The Peace Measure: Maturity

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  John 14:27
Come to me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

Our next milepost on the journey of Christian maturity: Rest. Peace. Simply put, stress is a character trait of this world and its system. God gives peace, instead.

We’ve all been there. Too much on our plates and feeling overwhelmed. Or we face impossible problems, setbacks, disappointments, discouragements… Add to that, we’re exhausted. Jesus calls this “Weary and heavy-laden”.

How does the world respond to stress? Well, there’s always TV (books, surfing the web and other distractions). Then there’s endurance—putting our shoulder to the tasks and bulldozing through (that’s me). Some get into pumping ourselves up with positive self-talk. Others find something in the fridge. And don’t forget pity-parties and complaining. (more…)

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VOTD 06.06.16 The Worship Measure: Maturity

I saw the Lord, high and exalted… And I cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”  Isaiah 6:1,5

Last time we saw that our faith in Jesus is the measure of our significance and value and respect, because faith means looking away from ourselves to Jesus and embracing Him as the personification of all that is significant, valued and worthy of honor and respect.

And when that happens, we become Jesus-worshipers.

Focusing on Jesus is all it takes to transform you and me into passionate worshipers. (more…)

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VOTD 05.24.16 Childlikeness: Maturity

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.  Matthew 18:1-5

Mature Christians have a childlike nature. Let’s get a few things straight from the beginning; Being childlike doesn’t mean we’re immature…And being mature doesn’t mean we accept the joyless, bored life that is often associated with adulthood. (more…)

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VOTD 05.23.16 Mountaintops & Valleys: Maturity

The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’” 1 Kings 20:28

The Arameans thought they had been defeated because Israel’s God was the God of the mountains, which is where they had been fighting. So they devised to fight Israel in the valleys, where Israel’s God was powerless (they thought). But the God of the mountain is still God in the valley (1Kings 20:23-28). (more…)

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VOTD 05.17.16 Passing the Eye Test: Maturity

Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Spiritual maturity is not about appearance. There are people who “look the part.” This is sometimes called “passing the eye test.” In basketball, for example, that means being exceptionally tall with big hands. But many who pass the eye test aren’t good basketball players. Some who are shorter are exceptional at the game.

In the same way, when it comes to Christian maturity, there are many Christians who “pass the eye test”—they look the part, but that’s all. Last time we mentioned age, or even the appearance of age. But looks aren’t a very good indication of spiritual maturity. (more…)

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