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.
– Phil 3:15-16
We often mistake spiritual maturity for a collection of religious credentials. We tend to measure our growth by the number of Bible verses we have memorised, the theological systems we can expertly navigate, or our ability to correctly define complex doctrines. While these things are valuable, Paul offers a different metric for the mature Christian. A truly mature Christian is someone who sees the surpassing worth of Christ and has subsequently deemed everything else in life a secondary concern.
If we find ourselves distracted by worldly ambitions or satisfied with a mediocre faith, we are essentially acting as spiritual infants, regardless of how much doctrine we know. Maturity reveals itself when we stop trying to balance Christ with our other idols and instead lay everything at His feet. As we grow, our vision doesn’t become broader; it becomes narrower, focusing more and more intensely on the beauty of the Saviour until He becomes our greatest pursuit and our only boast.
Prayer
Lord, help me to see Your surpassing worth so clearly that every other ambition fades in comparison. Grant me a mature heart that is always straining forward to know You more. Amen.
Meditation
If someone looked at your calendar and your thoughts this week, would they see a “mature” pursuit of Christ, or a heart scattered among many different priorities?