A Barometer for Spiritual Growth 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 New - TopicsExpress



          

A Barometer for Spiritual Growth 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 New King James Version 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Since our Father wants us to mature in the faith, we should stop periodically and examine our lives to see if were making progress in this area. Physical growth is fairly easy to evaluate--all you need is a tape measure. But how can you tell if youre growing spiritually? Lets begin by considering how children develop. Desires: Have you noticed that your childhood toys no longer interest you? The maturing process changes our desires in the spiritual realm too. When were growing, the worlds pleasures lose their appeal, while our hunger for God and His Word increases. We are eager to be with Him and share with others how Hes working in our lives. Understanding: When you were young, your perception of the world was very limited. In the same way, we lack spiritual understanding when were new believers. But in time, we begin to see life from God’s perspective. Trials and temptations become opportunities for growth, and service for the Lord becomes an honor instead of a burden. Selflessness: The most obvious sign of a toddlers immaturity is his selfishness. He wants his way, and he wants it now! Hopefully that is no longer characteristic of you. A mature believer is submissive to the Lord, willing to wait, and more concerned about others than himself. How are you doing in these three areas of growth? Maybe its time to let go of a few childish ways in order to grow into a mature believer. The greatest evidence of maturity is love. When the Lord and other people have first place in our hearts, its then that were most like Jesus.
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 01:31:48 +0000

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