Spiritual Maturity is Not Automatic

Prov. 16:2  All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but The Lord weighs the motives.

“Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of years, but by obedience. It is easy to have the attitudes of religion, but it is the motive of the heart we have to watch.”      Oswald Chambers

Often people can appear spiritual, particularly in their younger years, for a variety of motives, but the true motives tend to become more apparent in the latter years.

1 Kings 11:4  For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to The Lord his God …

How do we mature to an increasingly pure heart devoted preeminently to God?  (Actually He does the work, but we have a part. 1 Thess. 5:24)

A few suggestions for our part:

Pray – Psalm 139:23-24  Search me O God and know my heart….see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

Get to know God – (intake/meditation and application of the Word)  2 Peter 1:3  By His divine power He has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Appropriate God’s promises by faith – 2 Peter 1:4  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine naturehaving escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Focus on Jesus – Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live…

Hebrews 12:1-2  …lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith…

Obey – As you focus your attention on Jesus and hear what He’s saying, then simply do what He says.  That’s the life of repentance that leads to ‘mature and complete, lacking in nothing.‘ James 1:4

If you’re not already doing the Pray part regularly, I encourage you to start this week!

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