stephen R Harrison

(Read Philippians 3:15-16)

As a teenager, I thought I was mature for my age. Looking back, in some ways, I was, and in others, I wasn’t. My parents were examples of maturity I attempted to follow. They helped me see areas I needed to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. As I have aged, my understanding of maturity has grown. What I thought it meant to be mature needed clarity and development. But that’s how maturity works! It grows (or doesn’t) over time as you apply (or don’t) what you’ve learned. I matured more after college, working full-time, pastoring, marriage, raising kids, caring for aging parents, and several other points. 

In Philippians 3:15-16, Paul takes a moment to address the “mature” in the church. The mature were those who had grown in the Lord but had a humble mindset they had not fully matured in Christ. They were those who were living out 3:12-14. Paul trusted that those who did not possess this view, either by thinking they were fully mature or had no need for growth, would have God reveal the truth to them. The Holy Spirit is the One Who leads and sanctifies in all truth (John 17:17). Paul believed Christ was both the standard by which to measure growth and the solution by which to increase growth. He didn’t bear the sole responsibility for the Philippians’ growth. While he did instruct them, He entrusted their spiritual growth to God. 

Paul also expected the Philippians to continue their growth by not reverting to their old ways before Christ or following the false teachers he had addressed earlier in 3:2-3. We should not lose maturity in Christ but increase in it!  We should not deviate from it once we have learned how to live in a way that pleases and imitates Christ. By “walking by the same rule” and having the “same mind,” Paul expected the Philippians to unite and define maturity by Christ’s unwavering standards, not their interpretations. Whatever the Spirit and Word call Christian maturity should be our goal. We should strive to live our lives by His standards of holiness and not our own. We need the Spirit and His Word to clarify what it means to be mature in Christ. Once we learn that, we must adjust our lives (attitude, action, speech, etc.) to His standard of spiritual maturity, not return to old ways, and continue to mature in Him over a lifetime.

Questions for the Head (Think)

• Who’s definition of spiritual maturity shapes your life? Have you reverted to any of your old ways before salvation? Have you become stagnant in your spiritual maturity? Have you become prideful in the perspective of your spiritual growth?

Reflection for the Heart (Worship)

• Ask the Lord where you lack spiritual maturity.  Allow Him to guide you through His Spirit and Word. 

Action for the Hands (Do)

• List spiritual disciplines and allow the Spirit to clarify your spiritual maturity. Let Him lead you to your next step of spiritual maturity.