Emotional Maturity

Today’s reading is about emotional stability and maturity. It made me think more about the results of our Sabbath rest this week. For a long time I’ve felt tense, concerned with a lack of routine and so many days that were not ‘normal’ in that something new confronted me, not always negative but making me tense just the same.

Then we rested. We escaped the usual, spent time with God, each other, and doing some ordinary things that settled our thoughts. The past two days I’ve felt calmer than usual, and all that tension is gone. I attribute this to God's grace and am thankful, but today reminded how emotional maturity is about walking in the Spirit not the flesh. Considering this:

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:19–24)

Which of the fleshy works involve emotions? Certainly immoral activity, but all sorts of impurity, idolatry, etc. and more commonly, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, rivalry, dissensions, divisions, and envy. While most of these vary in degree, they still affect emotions. Last week, I noticed the tension in my body while watching an Agatha Christie movie. I cannot define the emotion but something adverse to rest was happening and this kind of entertainment should not produce tension or negative emotions.

This week is different. No tension. I have company coming today and was tense about that for weeks, but it vanished yesterday. This alone is a God-thing.

Today’s reading makes me think about what emotions are involved by walking in the Spirit. Certainly joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control, all positive.

Emotional maturity does not come with trying harder or with shutting down feelings. I’ve known those who ‘control’ their anger and lose their ability to feel positive emotions. It is only through the power of God's Spirit that emotions are as they should be. The NT even says: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27) This indicates anger might not be sinful (Jesus became angry). The key is to deal with it properly, as God would.

As for the other negatives, confessing them as self-centered sin is important. I’d been annoyed by the behavior of others. Confessing that as unloving disobedience made a huge difference to the tensions that were bothering me. While it seems obvious to recognize what gets blamed for negativity, a proper analysis is important. Too many times people say, “You make me so mad” putting the onus unfairly on the other person instead of taking responsibility for our own reactions.

PRAY: Jesus, when I admit my old nature has usurped Your Spirit and opened the door to all sorts of ‘stinkin’ thinkin’, You forgive and cleanse me, but You are also become free to produce Your fruit in me. You want the Spirit in control, not my negativity and sin. And that is the reason that You saved me, as Jesus said. . . .  

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:16–17)

The reward is far more than the ability to be a conduit for Your positive emotions because walking in the Spirit means You will also answer my prayers and enable me to love others as I ought!

Growing up

 

Theologians and mature Christians often point out stages in spiritual growth. Those recently saved are in a “honeymoon” phase, then as they grow, they begin to see the challenges and start to feel inadequate and helpless as they learn to rely on Christ for everything. These experiences are part of growing to be more like Jesus. John wrote a brief description comparing the process to physical growth:

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:13–14)

He summarizes those stages as the realities experienced: forgiveness, fellowship with God, and victory over the evil one. MacArthur suggests that mature spiritual fathers have a deep relationship with God that comes from prolonged time in prayer and the Word. He says many Christians struggle with spiritual defeat or recurring sins because they haven’t learned to apply Biblical principles to specific situations. This could stem from several things, yet Paul did say:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

However, he also prayed for spiritual maturity:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

Jesus gave us a pattern of how to resist the enemy by quoting specific portions of Scripture that applied to specific temptations. (See Matthew 4:1–11). He knew the Word, believed it, and refused to compromise its principles setting a pattern for us to follow. I know that when I fall, it is because I’ve either forgotten or neglected to use Scripture to settle the issues tempting me.

This instruction is also in the OT. The psalmist wrote:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9–11)

When the Lord came, He created a body of believers, a community for our growth described this way:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16)

Spiritual growth happens through paying attention to the direction of others that God gives as teachers and examples, through seeking unity and the knowledge of Christ and desiring to be like Him. I’m to discern truth, speak truth in love, and deeply care and pray for unity in the Body of Christ so we are building up one another and growing as we each do what God assigns us to do. In other words, seek the will of God, do it whatever He asks and trusting Him with the results as I encourage others to do the same.

Obedience is vital to growing up in Christ: “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3)

PRAY: Jesus, I can see how loving You means always wanting to know You more, to discover Your thoughts and heart and to agree with You in every way, showing it by obedience. It also means to grow in an intense love for Your people and in the desire to be one with them so You are glorified. This means knowing Your Word and doing what it says. Increase my hunger for it and for being more like You.

PONDER: the simplicity of Psalm 119:11. I must read what You say and store those truths in my inmost being that I might not sin against You, but also so Your Word teaches me what I should be doing instead of living selfishly for my own glory.

 

 

Meekness needed for spiritual maturity . . .

 

God is teaching me that meekness (gentleness, kindness) is far more than the way I behave toward others. It is the attitude that produces that behavior, an attitude of realizing how deeply sin can control me if I do not choose to walk in the truth of God’s Word. Meekness flows out of deep humility.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

The Word of God was implanted or set within me at salvation. I received it and regarded it as true that Jesus died for my sin, I am forgiven and belong to Him. Yet that is only the beginning. Being saved is a one-time experience that goes on for the rest of my life until I see Jesus face-to-face. I was saved (like a soldier enlisted) and am being saved (like an enlisted person learning how to act like the solder she already is).

Even though the Word is implanted in me, James tells me to receive it, regard it as true, all of it. The ‘I’m going to heaven’ part is only the beginning of salvation. Included in the package is God’s power to save me from continuing to sin. For that, I must meekly put away, reject, refuse sin and welcome what God says as true.

Meekness is gentleness and humility displayed with integrity during times of trial, and the opposite of any proud sinfulness that insists on my way or continually makes excuses for disobedience. God says that this meekness should beautify my life. In other words, it is the inner attitude of heart that works the outward beauty of Christ in a person’s life. Meekness is very precious to God. (1 Peter 3:4)

Meekness is all about walking in the Spirit, implanted at salvation. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13) and letting the Spirit be the source of who I am and how I live. “ . . . walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

Again, salvation begins with faith in Christ, and is also lived through faith in Christ. “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6) I cannot save myself and I cannot sanctify myself. Salvation is all of Christ and fully realizing this requires humility. As today’s devotional says, God’s Word was implanted within me by the Holy Spirit at the time of my salvation. His Word and the Holy Spirit are my source of ongoing power and growth for my life in Christ. I am responsible to receive the Word in purity and humility so it can do its sanctifying work.

MacArthur likes to translate meekness as “teachability” because a meek person sets aside resentment, anger, and pride to learn God’s truth and apply it. Meekness is realizing what Jesus has done for me, knowing how much He loves me, and having a desire to love Him by obeying His commands (John 14:15). For this, I must desire to know what He wants from me and for this, I must deeply desire to read what He says:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16–17)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, more and more You show me the importance of being in the Word. Reading, studying, thinking about it, even talking about it, and especially letting it direct all my affairs. Even as You satisfy me each day with truth and encouragement, I never want to be satisfied to the point where I think I know it all. How foolish that would be. Thank You for Your incredible saving grace!

READ: Nehemiah 8. Who read God’s Word to the people? How did the people respond? Compare their response to the Word with mine.