Become Fully Mature
Maturity Is a Process, Not a Moment
SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 13:9 CSB - … We also pray that you become fully mature.
OBSERVATION:
As Paul finishes his final closing thoughts to the Corinthians, he gives us a test that shows we need to become fully mature. That is, we still need to mature, even the most righteous amongst us.
2 Corinthians 13:3-4 CSB - since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God's power.
Let His power be the one that matures our weaknesses. Paul knew that God had to do the work, or it would be incomplete. Becoming fully mature is a process.
We love a good aged cheddar cheese. This requires a period of maturing or aging. It does not happen overnight, but with time. So too, becoming fully mature is a process.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 CSB - Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless you fail the test. And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
2 Corinthians 13:9 CSB - … We also pray that you become fully mature.
OBSERVATION:
As Paul finishes his final closing thoughts to the Corinthians, he gives us a test that shows we need to become fully mature. That is, we still need to mature, even the most righteous amongst us.
2 Corinthians 13:3-4 CSB - since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God's power.
Let His power be the one that matures our weaknesses. Paul knew that God had to do the work, or it would be incomplete. Becoming fully mature is a process.
We love a good aged cheddar cheese. This requires a period of maturing or aging. It does not happen overnight, but with time. So too, becoming fully mature is a process.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 CSB - Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless you fail the test. And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test.
We are often very ready to examine and test others, but first — and always first — we must examine and test ourselves. “That was the trouble at Corinth. They criticized Paul and failed to examine themselves.
To examine yourself, in fact, is to submit to the examination and scrutiny of Jesus Christ the Lord — and this never to fix attention on sin but on Christ — and to ask Him to reveal that in you which grieves His Spirit; to ask Him to give you grace that it might be put away and cleansed in His precious blood.” Self examination “takes the chill away from your soul, it takes the hardness away from your heart, it takes the shadows away from your life, it sets the prisoner free.” – Alan Redpath.
To examine yourself, in fact, is to submit to the examination and scrutiny of Jesus Christ the Lord — and this never to fix attention on sin but on Christ — and to ask Him to reveal that in you which grieves His Spirit; to ask Him to give you grace that it might be put away and cleansed in His precious blood.” Self examination “takes the chill away from your soul, it takes the hardness away from your heart, it takes the shadows away from your life, it sets the prisoner free.” – Alan Redpath.
APPLICATION:
The key to becoming fully mature is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Philippians 1:6 CSB - I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
In your self-examination, look to Jesus and allow the process of aging and maturing to unfold.
The key to becoming fully mature is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Philippians 1:6 CSB - I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
In your self-examination, look to Jesus and allow the process of aging and maturing to unfold.
It takes the chill away from your soul, it takes the hardness away from your heart, it takes the shadows away from your life, it sets the prisoner free. – Alan Redpath.
PRAYER:
Jesus, as David prayed in the Psalms. Today I cry out: Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV - Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true;
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like you.
You are the Potter,
I am the clay;
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Jesus, as David prayed in the Psalms. Today I cry out: Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV - Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true;
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like you.
You are the Potter,
I am the clay;
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.
Becoming fully mature begins not by examining others but by surrendering ourselves to the ongoing refining work of Jesus Christ in us.
Posted in 08 - 2 Corinthians
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