Philippians 3:15-21 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.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
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.
This devotion seeks to explore how we hope to live out Christian maturity, to imitate Christ, and influence others towards righteousness, by establishing a character deeply rooted in God’s truth and love.
Today, we’re going to turn our hearts and minds to the inspiring words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:15-21.
This passage brims with wisdom, with challenges, with the Apostle’s heartfelt plea for us to imitate maturity through Christ, to manifest the message of the cross, and to motivate others towards righteousness.
But how do we do this? How do we live out these lofty ideals in our day-to-day lives? How do we align our actions with our beliefs, our hearts with our words?
Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher and theologian, once said, “A good character when established is not easily overthrown.”
This is the essence of our pursuit – a character thoroughly established in Christ, unshakeable, and unwavering, rooted in the firm foundation of God’s truth and love.
Mimicking Maturity through Christ
In the passage we’ve read, Paul urges us to think as mature believers.
But what does it mean to be mature in Christ?
It’s not about age or experience.
It’s about a connected, deep, intimate relationship with Jesus, a relationship that transforms us from the inside out.
It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, molding, shaping us into the image of Christ. It’s about growing in His wisdom, in understanding, in love.
James 1:4-6 New International Version
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
When we look at Jesus, we see the perfect example of maturity.
He was fully God, yet He chose to become fully human, to live among us, to experience our struggles, our pains, our joys.
He showed us what it means to actually love unconditionally, to forgive without limit, to serve without expecting anything in return.
Mark 10:35-45 New International Version
The Request of James and John
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Paul calls us to imitate this kind of maturity.
He’s not asking us to put on a show, to pretend to be something we’re not.
He’s asking us to genuinely strive to be like Christ, let His character become our character, His values become our values, His priorities become our priorities.
This requires effort, discipline, and perseverance. (James 1:4)
It requires us to constantly examine our hearts, our motives, our actions.
Psalm 139:23-24 New International Version
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
But the reward is worth it.
As we grow in maturity, we experience a deeper, richer relationship with God.
We experience a greater sense of peace, joy, fulfillment.
But how do we imitate Christ’s maturity?
How do we grow in our relationship with Him?
Moving Towards Spiritual Maturity
First, we need to spend time with Him.
Just as we can’t become close friends with someone without spending time with them, we cannot become mature believers without spending time with Jesus.
We need to read His Word, to pray, to worship, to meditate on His truths.
We need to listen to His voice, to seek His face, to bask in His presence.
Second, we need to obey His commands.
Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Matthew 22:34-40 New International Version
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Obedience is not a burden, but a joy.
It’s not a duty, but a privilege.
It’s not a way to earn God’s love, but a response to His love.
As we obey Jesus, we show our love for Him.
We show our trust in Him.
We show our desire to please Him.
Third, we need to serve others. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.
He washed His disciples’ feet, a task reserved for the lowest servant.
He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the brokenhearted. He loved the unlovable, forgave the unforgivable, welcomed the unwelcome. As we serve others, we follow Jesus’ example. We show His love, His compassion, His grace.
Fourth, we need to share the gospel. Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Luke 19:1-10 New International Version
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He spent His earthly life proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom, calling people to relationship, repentance, offering forgiveness, promising eternal life.
He commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.
Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
As we share the gospel, we fulfill Jesus’ commission.
We extend His invitation.
We bring hope to the hopeless, light to the darkness, life to the dead.
Romans 15:1-13 New International Version
15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”[a] 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”[c]
10 Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d]
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”[e]
12 And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”[f]
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Remember, mimicking growth, maturity through Christ is not about perfection.
It’s about progress.
It’s about moving forward, step by step, day by day.
It’s about growing, changing, transforming.
It’s about becoming more and more like Jesus, until one day, we see Him face to face, and we become like Him, perfectly mature, perfectly whole, perfectly His.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
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.
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). 