Spiritual Maturity Many of us reading this are mature in years. But what about spiritual maturity? How mature is your spiritual life? What does spiritual maturity even look like? One definition of what a spiritually mature person is – one whose words, actions and temperament emulate the character and teachings of Jesus. Do you think that is doable? The apostle Paul thought so. He speaks of us being transformed into Jesus’ likeness in 2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." But spiritual growth, unlike physical growth, has to be intentional, it doesn’t just happen. To become spiritually mature requires certain things. Paul lists some in his first letter to the Corinthian church who were rife with problems. They had to stop living based purely on their personal wants. They had to stop factions based on personal preference. They had to stop jealousy and quarrels. They had to, in short, stop being spiritual babies and grow up. Paul’s words are not only for the Corinthians. They are for every church down throughout the ages. To flourish and grow into Jesus’ image, we all need to be intentional in becoming spiritually mature. Intentional in being doers, not only hearers of God’s Word. That will, at times, require of us all more than we feel willing or able to give or relinquish. But to remain spiritual babies is to do ourselves and our churches and our relationship with Jesus a disservice. What can you do to help you intentionally grow up spiritually? (fb)

Rain One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my son, Matthew, spoke up from his relaxed position in his seat. "Mom, I'm thinking of something." This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that his six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain!;" he began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away." After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Matthew." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation? So I asked... "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?" Matthew didn't hesitate one moment with his answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us." I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on. We must continually come to the Lord and seek His forgiveness. -Brenda Hunter (fb)