Philippians 1:27
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
From the time we are born until the day we die we are in a process of maturing physically, emotionally and spiritually. We mature in our mind by gaining knowledge of our surroundings, through the processing of information, and through communication. We mature our body by developing our muscles through movement, building strength, and coordination. We mature our spirit as we gain understanding of our belief system, embracing the information and applying that to grow our insides.
As Christ followers, we mature in the same ways but through the lens of biblical truth.
We learn how to take our thoughts captive. We read the word of God to understand truth and become familiar with the voice of our Shepherd. We submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and he helps us to grow and respond to the world around us in ways that look like him.
How do we live a life that is worthy of the gospel? By letting go of our ways and allowing God to teach us and grow us up as he leads.
Each of us has a unique faith journey. As Christ followers we have chosen to trust in a God that loves us beyond what we could comprehend. He knows us so completely. He knows our thoughts, our dreams, our desires as well as our disappointments, our struggles and our pain. He sees all of it. Even though he is intimately acquainted with every part of us he invites us into this adventure of faith through relationship.
Relationships are something we develop over time. Healthy relationships grow in love, understanding, communication, and intimacy. They seek what is best for one another. They bring correction in love, speak truth, and create safe spaces. They make a safe space to submit as trust grows. The best relationship we will ever enter into is one with God. He perfectly walks out his part of our relationship all of the time.
We get to know God by spending time with him. As we read the Bible, we learn what God is like. We learn what he sounds like and what he does for his children. We are exposed to his heart and his desires. As we spend time in prayer and worship, we learn to hear his voice and how to sense his presence. He opens our eyes to see his truths, our ears to hear his voice, and our minds to understand his will. We get to decide how much of ourselves we want to give to him and what we will let him transform.
When we give our life to God, he desires to fill every part of us. His love for us is perfect. His motives are pure, his love is selfless, and he wants the best for us. As we grow in our faith, we learn to submit to him. Submission can be a challenge because we all have areas in our lives we like to control. We may be ok with giving God certain areas of our life but have trouble letting go of others. We all have places where our flesh gets the better of us and we struggle to surrender to him. But God doesn’t want part of us, he wants ALL of us.
As we mature, we grow in our trust and obedience to God. When I was growing up, I remember there were things I wanted to do that were not good for me. In my immaturity, I was unable to see the full consequences of those desires. My parents would set boundaries for me so I wouldn’t suffer the consequences of those decisions. As I matured I grew in understanding, I could see the wisdom of those boundaries and appreciate the ways they hemmed me in for my good. The same concept applies to God. In his perfection, he clearly sees the whole picture. He has us submit for our good and for his glory. Submission is not to hinder us but to bring us into His freedom. When we fight against God’s statutes, we miss the fullness of his blessing for our life.
As we mature and grow, we steward our bodies in a way that honors the Lord. We take care of the physical from what we eat, how we allow for rest and Sabbath as well as how we take on stress and difficulty. We set boundaries that leave margin to tend to our physical being as we are living tabernacles of the Holy Spirit. We nurture our spirit by spending time with God through prayer and worship. We meditate on His word allowing it to water the dry places, heal the wounded places and fill the empty places of our inner self.
God is patient with us. He generously extends his grace and forgiveness to us. He invites us into new opportunities to mature and submit. I am in awe of the ways he proves himself worthy, faithful, and trustworthy over and over again. As you learn to trust your loving Heavenly Father and obey, maturity will be the natural result. Our journey is like a baby who first learns to sit and crawl. As they learn to balance and develop in strength, they pull themselves up to stand. Eventually they bravely take those first wobbly steps that grow into a steady walk and advance into a controlled run. Similarly, God helps mature in our faith as we submit to him.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, my desire is to be spiritually mature so that my life reflects the gospel in a manner that brings you glory. I ask you to speak to me and show me the areas where I can be further submitted to you in my life allowing you to mature and grow my mind and spirit. Listen and respond to what he shows you.
Prayer:
Father, I want to look more and more like you each day. I want to live a life worthy of my calling and worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I give you permission to have your way in my life. Show me how to take my thoughts captive and how to strengthen my spiritual muscles. Please give me wisdom to know what is your will and what will bring you honor in every circumstance. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would sift me and mold me in the way that you do, like clay in the potter’s hands. I pray that you would give me the steadiness that comes with maturity. Grow me in patience that comes from the confidence in how you operate not only in my life, but in those around me. Thank you that you will fulfill your promise to complete your good work in me and that you will never give up. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible verses on Maturity and Submitting to God
1 Corinthians 14:20
“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”
1 Corinthians 13:11-12
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Luke 8:14
“And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.”
Romans 8:5-8
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Job 22:21-22
“Agree* with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.”
*Some translations say submit