Stages of Spiritual Growth

 

My hubby is gifted as a leader. He likes the view from the top of a mountain. I would rather look at it from the base, maybe because I’m afraid of heights. While this view from wherever you are on the mountain is often used to illustrate spiritual growth, I’m thinking this might not be the best illustration.

Today’s devotional says that what I see and what my hubby sees from these two standpoints shows that where a person at in their spiritual  maturity will determine how they view the same landscape. This conveys the idea is that the closer one is to the top equals maturity and the climb illustrates a progressive learning of God’s truth. However, I’ve met new Christians who have a better grasp of some aspects of God’s nature than older and supposedly mature believers do of that same truth.

Of course I googled this topic and found a host of opinions on the various stages of spiritual growth. Some were short, like “babies, youth, adults” while others had 8 or 9 stages with varying names. Some examples:

• Curiosity and Wonder, Commitment-Initiation, Questioning-Doubt, Enlightenment, Separation, Identification, and Transformation-Manifestation.
• Seeker, Believer, Learner, Server, Leader.
• Purgative stage, the illuminative stage, and the unitive stage.
• Honeymoon, Experiential, Discovery, Purpose/Identity, Unison

Some say Jesus experienced growth using this verse: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Others look at terms like babies, young, elder, mature, but whatever method or ideas we have about spiritual growth, I’m wondering if doing this reflects a human effort to put the work of God in a box? For example, compare the life and attitudes of a new Christian when they are filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing spiritual fruit — to the life and attitudes of a church elder when he or she is walking in the flesh and griping about a problem rather than praying. Who is the mature person in that situation?

Maybe maturity is about consistency? I know Christians who have never doubted God’s acceptance of them, regardless of their ‘good’ deeds and others who struggle most of the time to be ‘good enough’ — begging the same question: who is the mature one?

The NT indicates stages in human terms regarding physical age…

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 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 2:12–14)

Yet here, all of these know God’s forgiveness. The “children” and everyone else know the Father. All ages overcome the evil one because they are in the Word of God and it sticks with them. Perhaps this is the better measuring stick — the ability to fend off Satan because his tactics are recognized due to being immersed in Scripture, knowing about spiritual warfare, and learning that beating the enemy requires knowing and doing the will of God.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

One more thing seems plain; whatever we need to grow, God supplies it:

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:14–16)

And He also expects us to hang on to what He tells us so we will not fall backwards and tumble down that mountain!

PRAY: Jesus, I am always grateful that You are the Savior for that road to maturity means learning and relearning that I cannot save myself and must trust You, not only for eternal life, forgiveness, and new life, but in every area of life. It is humbling to remember that I’ll only be genuinely mature when I see You face to face in glory!

Trusting Him and ignoring my feelings…

Note to readers: Every now and then my posts have typos or worse — like convoluted sentences that make no sense. They usually happen when I make a late evening post and am half asleep. My hubby notices them the next morning but too late for those who read them early in the day. So sorry! If that happens, please go back and read again as they do get corrected and I want to be clear rather than confusing!

I wish that I had read today’s devotional at least a day ago — I might not have been so anxious about the meeting yesterday! The devotional writer reminded her readers that God’s people learn that God is enough. Funny how your head can tell you that but fears and other emotions and experiences scream otherwise. The Bible says, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) I should not let fear happen, but it did.

A good example for me is Job. He was in great trials and overwhelmed by lack of understanding. Why was God allowing all this loss and sorrow? Why did He not give comfort and assurance up front? Like Job, I was trusting God, yet not feeling the delight that goes with that trust. Job complained a great deal, however he did say this remarkable truth:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15)

Other versions say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” That was my thinking. This meeting could be a total disaster. I had a key role in it but feared no one would listen to me. But I was trusting God anyway, no matter what happened. The hard part was no joy in that trust — at least not until the day was over and He surprised me with the others who gave support for my thoughts and showed rejection of ideas contrary to sound practices. I did not expect such unity.

The devotional writer also points to David who said:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:4–6)

Did David write this before, during, or after his trials and the experience of God’s comfort? I don’t know Hebrew so cannot determine the verb tenses. However, in English this reads that David’s trust was based on both faith and experience. He knew he could trust God in the present and the future because of God’s past faithfulness. I should be more like David. He also said:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3)

The NT says such faith comes by hearing — hearing the Word of God. I need to also be in the Scriptures more than I am, reading Psalms more often would be helpful.

Yet meditation is vital too. I’d recently read this NT passage and failed to apply it to my fears about yesterday’s meeting:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

PRAY: Lord God, my spiritual maturity has a long way to go to match my physical age. Yet age is not the issue. I need to think all the time that You are enough. No matter the trials and challenges, You do not fail. I can trust You to take care of all issues, no matter how huge or impossible they might seem to me. You will honor Your Word take care of me, just as You have promised.

A Perfect Parent

We went to a birthday party last night for a lady who turned 99 that day. She is small, reasonably sharp, and said she didn’t like being the center of attention, even though she smiled a lot and enjoyed the hugs and displays of affection from her son, his wife, two of their children plus their spouses and children. She laughed at their antics and loved the pictures sent from more family in far-away places. We laughed too. One grandson wrote in his card for her that she now was out of the double-digits. Another said she was now like Wayne Gretzky, a record-breaking hockey player whose jersey bore number 99.

We also enjoyed seeing the effect of good mothering. The son serves God with all his heart, as do his daughters and their spouses. Those grandchildren, ages 5 to 15 sat at their own table, well-behaved and obviously enjoying one another and obviously loving their parents, grandparents, and their great grandmother who is nearly 100.

Today’s devotional likens the love of God to the love of a good mother. Like a trusting child runs to her for everything from comfort for a bruise to advice about what to do next, the children of God can run to our Heavenly Father and find that He is enough to deal with all our fears and troubles.

I’m feeling the weight of that today. After church, there is an important planning meeting for a non-profit organization that I serve on their board. My concern is a loss of focus that others don't seem to realize. Will I share it and be ignored? Yet I feel compelled to say something. This is scary and I just want to stay home. I keep telling myself that God will be with me and that God is enough, but past experience with this board and their focus keeps nagging the opposite.

Two verses come to mind about the role of mothers and that connect to this meeting and my attitude toward being there. One of these says:

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)

A good mother could be like the three generations of mothers that we were with last night. The were all happy together, no squabbles and well-behaved. The birthday girl chuckled and said, “We must have done something right.’

It was easy to see that the will of God had been involved in the raising of those families. It speaks to me that this is a key ingredient in all of life, even when involved in things like a secular board meeting that never mentions God. Regardless of how they think, I am still responsible as God’s child to do His will.

The other verse is even more specific. It says:

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. (1 Thessalonians 2:7)

A nursing mother remembers that her children need tender care. A wise Christian remembers that those without Christ are unable to discern the will of God and without the power of the Holy Spirit they (and also those who know Christ) are unable to do the will of God. That means treating them with gentle respect, not like stubborn and willfully contrary people, but as what the Bible says they are.

This is helpful, but challenging. It is almost automatic to respond to views that are contrary to the Word of God as being deliberate and self-centered — probably because that describes me when I am contrary to God’s will, but stubborn disobedience is not the same as spiritual blindness. My attitudes need the Spirit’s rebuke, but blindness needs His enlightenment… and that I cannot do.


PRAY: Jesus, I know that You are able to do all things. Today is a test and I feel I’ve flunked before it even begins because I don’t want to go to this meeting. Keep my mind on You and Your gentle way with those who do not know You. May I be totally aware of Your presence with me today, and always thinking that You are enough for all the challenges before me.
Later: God surprises me again. All of the other board members put forth ideas that matched mine. This was not expected by me and joyfully received by the everyone else. Again, God is enough! He also forgives my skepticism!
 

Having nothing yet possessing everything

Part of the spiritual gift of teaching is a strong desire to collect information so as to have it to pass along to others. While this means being good at trivial pursuit games and sharing household hints, its main purpose is knowing the will of God and the Word of God so well that cross-referencing and making connections is easy.

The downside or fleshy side of this inclination is collecting useless stuff. I noticed that last month. Some people collect spoons, or mugs, stamps, Avon containers, salt shakers, and all sorts of things that are displayed but without purpose. Today’s devotional points out that some “strive to get possession of certain experiences, some seek after ecstatic feelings, some try to make themselves rich in theological views and dogmas, some store up a long list of works done and results achieved, some seek to acquire illuminations or to accumulate gifts and graces” as if they will enhance their reputation with others and with God.

Paul wrote about events in his life and included his thoughts on collection/possession of stuff:

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:8–10)

Having nothing yet possessing everything seems like a contradiction. However, at this stage of my walk with Him, I’m beginning to understand. Having nothing means being emptying myself of all that I have, meaning my ideas, skills, wants, burdens, everything — so that I depend on Him for everything. That is, what I have has no value to me and can be released, set aside, useless to me and unable to fulfill any of my needs and certainly useless when it comes to help others or meeting their needs. Instead, He will supply. Paul means having nothing apart from God and relying on Him means I have everything.

Jesus lived by this principle. First He emptied Himself by being in the form of god but “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself the form of a servant… and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” He had nothing, but lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Of this, He said: “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) He applied this to knowing what we need to know: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) This means I can put information into my head but don’t need to dote on my ‘collection’ for it is the Holy Spirit who brings it out when it is needed.

Paul emptied himself and said of it: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) He knew that loss was a gain for he also wrote: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) and pointed to this attitude with lines like:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, (1 Corinthians 3:21)

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

The Apostle Peter had the same attitude. When encountering a cripple beggar, He said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6) He later wrote: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3)

Not only does God want me to rely on Him but also remember that His supply may come through His family, not collections or any of my means or devices. He says, “All who believed were together and had all things in common.” (Acts 2:44) Being interdependent is one more way to empty myself.


PRAY: Jesus, You know how independent I can be. I can handle most things, and I do rely on You for much of that, yet tend not to rely on others very much (except my dear hubby) but this idea of having nothing yet possessing everything includes a willingness to be served as well as to serve. You graciously accept the offerings of Your people. I need to be more like You.

For God so loved . . .

The author of today’s devotions makes a thought-provoking observation. She imagines a courtroom in which the accused stands before a judge thinking about all that could happen. Then she says that the thoughts of the man are irrelevant; only what the judge thinks is important. The accused is totally at the mercy (or not) of the judge.

Then she applies this thought to our relationship with God. She says, “The only vital thing in our relation with the Lord is not what our feelings toward Him are but what His feelings toward us are.”

My first thought was this passage:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

The devotional writer calls her illustration about the importance of the judge’s thoughts as a ‘self-evident fact’ — and as I read through the above passage, it is so logical and plain that God loves me that I wonder why I would ever doubt it. He sent Jesus to die for me. Jesus lives forever to intercede for me. Nothing can change the love of God for me, even if persecutors put me to death I will forever be with the Lord who loves me. Nothing can change that.

Other verses come to mind:

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6)
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1)
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Think of the accused standing before a judge and fearing that the maximum sentence will be given to him. He has no idea that the judge is merciful, nor that someone else, even the judge’s own son, has already offered to take his place and serve his sentence, even the death penalty for his crimes. This is what the Judge, our Holy God, has done. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to take our place and set us free.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, so easily I forget that You totally love me, and that Your love is enough. Forgive my doubts and my memory lapses. Fill me with that love, not just to reassure me but that I will love and always obey You, and also love others with that same kind of unchanging, sacrificial love that You pour out on me.

Joy in Trials?

 

Last night we had a long visit with a couple who work at al local mission for homeless people. They were discouraged as they told us the attitude of most who come to the shelter for food and a bed. Very few are thankful, not even those who get a regular cash gift from the government. They only want more of everything and order their caregivers around as if they were slaves rather than people who are concerned for their well-being.

Today’s devotional is how the author went to a friend hoping she could get help and advice. However, the friend had only one answer, no matter how difficult the problem was and how graphic the author’s explanation. The friend kept saying, “Yes, I know; but there is God.”

This came to mind last night even before reading it today. The conversation was all about the problems of working with unreasonable and unthoughtful people until we began talking about the power of God. Yes, we agreed that our world is in a mess and many have rejected God’s mercy and grace, just curse Him and everyone else. However, God is God.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:1–8)

Without Him, all would be like those unthankful people, always wanting more, never content or thankful, wasting what they do have, and treat others without any kindness at all. Apart from the grace of God, we are sinners who fall short and are in bad need of His Spirit to change our attitudes.

As we talked of God’s mercy and the grace of Jesus toward sinful people, we could see hope coming to the faces of our friends, It reminded me of these words:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

When I look online for images about God being enough, many of them add the words, “…when God is all that you have” and I think how tragic to be humbled to the point of having nothing before realizing that God is sufficient. It is even more tragic when people without much wallow in their misery rather than seeking Him and realizing that He is indeed enough.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, our friends at the mission say that none of the staff could survive the day without the time given by their employer to pray and rest during their shift. Their task is difficult and the work they do is ridiculed rather than appreciated. In many ways, they are suffering like You suffered. Grant them joy in it, that impossible to understand joy and peace that only You can give to those who struggle to obey You when in great stress as they serve very needy people. No one is sufficient for these things, but God, You are ENOUGH!.

God has something better…

 

World news and local events have some Christians thinking that the return of Christ is eminent. It could be, yet the Lord has given me and my husband long-term projects which convince us that it is not next week.

The church at Thessalonica were in some confusion about this and wondered if they missed it. For that reason, Paul wrote and told them to calm down rather than being shook up:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–2)

Why be shook up? Don’t we long to see the face of Jesus and the righteousness that He will establish when He returns? Aren’t we distressed about evil being called good and good being called evil? Why would we not long for the rule of Christ rather than the anarchy that seems worldwide? Is it because we have loved ones who are not ready? Or is it because some of us are hooked on the pleasures of this life?

Today’s devotional suggest that God’s people cannot be stable in their faith or follow the Lord fully if we are tied fast to anything else. If we are ready to live in the city of God, we must be detached from all that holds us here. The OT example is Abraham:

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you… So Abram went, as the Lord had told him… (Genesis 12:1-4)

Thinking of my thirty-two relocations, I understand Abram more than if we had lived in one place all our lives. At the same time, I know the difficulty of leaving behind something that has become dear to me. The reason this man is an example is because he “was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

Abram realized that as good as ‘home’ might be, God has something better. The ability to turn from life as I know it is easier when I am looking ahead rather than clinging to what is now. The NT says:

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:14–16)

Jesus said that He went to prepare a place for us. The Bible speaks of what God has prepared, not clearly yet as I understand Him more clearly, then my confidence grows in His ability and desire to make that eternal city more delightful than anything I’ve ever known.
This means letting go of what I know, not relying on anything but God. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “I have learned not to hold to anything too tightly for it hurts when God pries my fingers loose.”

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:26–29)

It is not me that God consumes but He shakes me loose from any idols that I might cling to instead of trusting Him. All idols will not survive. This term was first used in that connection:

Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:23–24)

PRAY: Lord, I get it. The stuff of this life cannot do any of what You do for me. "On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah" (Psalm 62:7–8) YOU ARE ENOUGH for now and forever!