Matthew 16:24-27 New American Standard Bible 1995
Discipleship Is Costly
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his [a]life will lose it; but whoever loses his [b]life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then [c]repay every man according to his [d]deeds.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Peter had extraordinarily strong emotional ties to Jesus.
How could Jesus even talk of leaving and dying?
Didn’t Jesus know that Peter needed him?
Peter pulled Jesus aside because Jesus wasn’t talking like someone who had the world by a string.
But Jesus saw the world differently.
Losing life for the Lord’s sake was better than holding on to life in this world.
Peter needed a hardcore verbal slap in the face.
Jesus saw what Peter could not see: Satan was standing in Jesus’ way to bring Peter to the Father.
Like a cold glass of water thrown in the face of a sleepy person, Jesus had to rigorously, vigorously awaken Peter to kingdom things.
Peter was holding on to his life too hard without suffering for Jesus’ sake.
The cross was the only way to bring Peter to God.
By letting go of his life, Jesus gains for us eternal life.
Jesus was training Peter to lose his life for Jesus so that Peter could have a life that really honored God.
What are you, your heart and your soul holding on to for your own sake?
Maybe it’s time to give permission to your heart and your soul to finally let go of your worldly life so that Jesus can give you a true life that truly honors God?
Markers of Spiritual Growth and Maturity
Psalm 15 New American Standard Bible 1995
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
15 O Lord, who may [a]abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander [b]with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In [c]whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But [d]who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money [e]at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
You would think the desire of every believer in Jesus Christ is to strive for spiritual maturity.
I can’t say for certain this is true of every believer, but at least I can hope.
If you are going to strive for maturity – and I trust this is your desire – doesn’t it make sense to know what it looks like?
After all, the old saying goes, “if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.”
For this reason, I want to suggest for you a target.
The target is simply five questions that will help measure how you are doing in terms of your spiritual maturity.
These questions are in no manner meant to be judgmental, but hopefully they will become stirring, eye-opening as we seek to continue to grow as believers.
What Does Mature Mean?
Philippians 3:15-16 New International Version
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
The word for mature here means complete in all its parts, full grown, of full age, or fully developed. The reference here is connected to the development of your Christian character. Looking at verse 15 closer leads to the first question.
1. Do You Have the Right Perspective in Life?
Spiritual maturity is about having the right perspective in life, and the way you think is evidence of your maturity in Christ.
Your outlook regarding the situations in life you face speak volumes as to whether you are approaching them from a place of maturity or immaturity.
However, it is not just about looking at life situations with the right mindset.
You must also view yourself from the right perspective.
This requires you to not just think about what you do, but who you are in Christ.
Too often in life we have the tendency to define ourselves by what we do.
It is very common to ask someone, especially when you first meet them, “What do you do for a living?”
While this is a good conversation starter, sometimes we can’t get past defining the conversation or ourselves in this fashion.
If you are going to have a mature perspective, you need to define yourself not simply by what you do, because that can change.
You need to define yourself by who you are in Christ, because that doesn’t change.
This doesn’t mean you have achieved all you are in Christ, but it does mean you are striving toward it.
The more you begin to see yourself and begin to define yourself the way God sees you, the more maturity you are developing.
2. Are You Holding on to the Progress You Have Already Made?
Philippians 3:15-16 New Living Translation
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
This question comes from Philippians 3:16, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
Another measure of your maturity focuses on not just how you have developed in the past, but how you will continue to develop in the future.
Spiritual maturity is about learning and continuing to learn.
Growing and continuing to grow.
In other words, there is always going to be more maturity ahead of you.
If the ultimate goal is to be conformed into the image of Christ, we all have a long way to go.
That’s why in this life we are always striving but never arriving.
Maturity recognizes the progress you have made, holds onto it, and at the same time strives to continue forward.
3. Who Are You Choosing to Follow?
Philippians 3:17-18 New Living Translation
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
Paul gives an interesting instruction in verse 17.
I am not sure how often we think about this, but the people you choose to follow point to your level of spiritual maturity.
Who you choose to look up to as a role model or example to follow speaks volumes to how you are developing in your walk with Christ.
Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example and the example of others that live like he does.
This forces me to ask you the question, who are the people you are following?
The measure of the role model is not what they say, but how they live.
In short, their character absolutely matters.
To take it a step further, a person’s title or position does not automatically deem them worthy of being an example or a role model.
However, their character does.
Be careful who you choose to follow and make sure you consider those who truly display godly character.
If you are spiritually mature, you will stop making excuses for people’s lack of character and start holding them accountable for it.
This is real evidence of spiritual maturity.
4. How Do You Spend Your Time and Where Do You Devote Your Focus?
Philippians 3:20-21 New Living Translation
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
You might be wondering what this has to do with spiritual maturity.
Quite possibly this could have everything to do with it.
Because as a believer you are a citizen of heaven, this means you have a sacred duty, a moral and an ethical obligation to the place where your citizenship lies.
When an Olympic athlete competes, they represent their country of citizenship.
They usually count this as an honor and for this reason they train hard because they always want to give their absolute best effort and do their country proud.
We are citizens of heaven, which means when we go out into the world and live, we represent heaven, and we too always need to ensure we are giving our best effort so that we can give all glory and honor unto God as His representative.
2 Corinthians 5:12-21 New Living Translation
12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,[a] so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[b] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[c] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[d] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
For all of this to happen you must make sure that you are not getting entangled in earthly pursuits that only distract you from what God has called you to do.
In the time God has given us on this earth he has a purpose and plan for our life.
This means you must be selective in what you put your energy behind and make sure your goals, desires, and whatever you choose to pursue align with heaven’s goals and desires for your life.
The more you mature, the more you can make sure this becomes your primary focus, allowing you to block out all those other things that can distract you.
As you measure your maturity, consider closely how you will spend your time and what you focus on.
These two things will be big clues as to whether you are operating in spiritual maturity or not.
5. Do You Contend for the Unity of the Body of Christ?
Philippians 4:1-3 New International Version
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
When Paul was writing his letter to the church in Philippi, there was one bad situation he had to address.
There seemed to be a disagreement between two of the women in the church.
These women were prominent in the church, which is why their disagreement was causing a problem.
These women were considered dear friends, companions, women who contended with Paul for the cause of the gospel.
He called them co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Paul pleaded with them for unity.
Currently the church is filled with many disputes and divisions of various kinds, but where do you stand? Are you contending for the unity of the body of Christ?
This was not only Paul’s plea, this was also Jesus’ prayer (John 17:21), so this is not something to be brushed aside or taken lightly.
A person who is fighting and contending for the unity of the body of Christ is operating in spiritual maturity.
However, if a person is always divisive, destructive, or disagreeable, then they are not operating with God’s heart in mind and are clearly spiritually immature.
All I can say is please don’t be that person.
Concluding Thoughts – Spiritual Growth and Maturity
Matthew 5:13-16 New American Standard Bible 1995
Disciples and the World
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [a]can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [b]hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [c]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
As I bring this to a close, how did you do with those questions?
Remember this is not about judgment but about trying to help us all become more mature in our walk with Jesus Christ.
My prayer is that the cry of our hearts would always be in this direction.
When it is, we are aligning with God’s desire and hopefully always growing and continuously imitating Christ, becoming the mature believers he wants us to be.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 24 New American Standard Bible 1995
The King of Glory Entering Zion.
A Psalm of David.
24 The earth is the Lord’s, and [a]all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul [b]to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And [c]righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 [d]This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. [e]Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O [f]ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O [g]ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 