Would you like to become spiritually mature? I bet you do. I have very good news and very bad news. Let’s tackle the bad first. There are no shortcuts available. There’s no magic pill to take away the spiritual fat. There’s no fast track to skip the long lines of the obedience school. But here’s the very good news: spiritual maturity happens by grace when we stick to Jesus day in, day out.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. (2 Peter 3:18, NIV)

We are called to grow in grace. We are called to mature spiritually. With the words of J.C. Ryle “Gradual growth in grace, growth in knowledge, growth in faith, growth in love, growth in holiness, growth in humility, growth in spiritual-mindedness – all this I see clearly taught and urged in Scripture, and clearly exemplified in the lives of many of God’s saints. But sudden, instantaneous leaps from conversion to consecration I fail to see in the Bible.”

If there isn’t any shortcuts available, how then do we reach spiritual maturity? By abiding in Jesus. That’s our only task. When we follow Christ, the Holy Spirit works in and through us. When we abide in Christ, we are being transformed into spiritual maturity. It’s all grace, we can’t brag about it. We are only blessed participants in what God is doing.

Spiritual growth does happen. But it doesn’t happen over night. We are saved in a moment, yes. But sanctification takes a lifetime. Spiritual growth is gradual, from one degree of holiness to the next degree of holiness. It happens by grace when we walk with God daily. When prayer becomes the most natural way of communication to us. When the Holy Bible takes more and more space in our hearts and minds. When spending time with God is what coming home is all about.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for calling us to spend lots of time with you.
How blessed we are to be your children!
Thank you that spiritual growth happens by grace.
Thank you that our only duty is to abide in you.
Bless us according to your plan for us.
Take care of all our needs,
make us more like you.
Become our everything, Lord.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What spiritual maturity is to you?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you Image courtesy of Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up with Unite the Bloggersphere and#tellhisstory.