Here are some signs of growth:
1. A spiritually mature person is increasingly aware of their own sin and weakness. It’s not unusual for Christians to be aware of sin…in others. The mature Christian realizes he is weak and sinful. The more he matures the more that reality grows.
2. A spiritually mature person responds to sin with quick repentance. When we are new as Christians we are slow to recognize sin and slower still to deal with it. We go through a grieving process. At first we deny the sin and then we are shocked by it. We may try to negotiate: Is it really sin? If it is, is it really that bad? The mature Christian recognizes sin for what it is and realizes that the only proper response is repentance.
3. The spiritually mature person has an increased desire to obey and a reduced attraction to sin. This is a secret that Brother Lawrence learned. By practicing the presence of God, by realizing He is with us always, we are reluctant to sin in His presence and desirous of obey His word.
4. The spiritually mature person experiences an increase in struggle. The walk gets tougher, not easier, as we take it more seriously. The more we are concerned about matters of sin and obedience, the more we recognize our own sin and weakness.
5. The spiritually mature person experiences an increase in joy. With more struggle and maturity comes more joy. The closer we are conformed to the image of Christ, the closer we are to the person we were meant to be. With that comes more joy in our walk.
Grow in maturity and grow in blessings and joy.
Nick
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