Spiritual Maturity (I)

Memory Verse: "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (Prov.6:16-19, KJV)

Scripture Reading: 1 Jn.2:15-17.

True spiritual growth is defined by an increasing capacity to love what God loves and hate what God hates. 

When we say that someone is increasing in spirituality or growing spiritually, it means the capacity of that person to hate what God hates and love what God loves is on the increase and not the other way round. 

We can examine our spiritual maturity level using the above principle.

The advantage of this is that, loving what God loves brings us into friendship and favour with God; but to love what God hates brings you into enmity with Him (see Amos 3:3). If a person loves what God hates, God leaves such a one to himself. He lives separated from God. Tell me, what remains for a person that's separated from His maker?

Therefore, if we desire spiritual maturity, it is important for us to know what things God hates and those things He also loves so we can do likewise. This becomes the beginning of our success and triumph on the face of the earth.

In closing, it is important for us to understand that spiritual maturity is a lifelong pursuit. We progress in spiritual maturity moment by moment, day by day, year by year. Let's keep pushing. Let's keep pressing.

Ponder Point: Spiritual maturity isn't measured by how high you jump in praise but how straight you walk in obedience.

Action Point: Examine the level of your spiritual maturity by checking the scale of your obedience to the instructions of the Lord.

Prayer Point: Father, I ask that my capacity to love the things You love and hate the things You hate be on the increase. Help me to keep pushing and pressing into spiritual maturity in Jesus name, Amen.