Choose to Agree and Mature

Prayer – Lord, I hear You telling us to agree with other Christians. I don’t have any problem with that…but it seems like so many people just can’t seem to agree with others. They want things their way. I’m not really involved in many church leadership roles right now—so I don’t see all that is going on at that level. Having been deeply past, it is odd to sit back and generally just observe. Lord, I ask that You guide those who are making decisions, not only in my church, but all across the nation and around the world that we would keep our eyes focused on You and on opportunities to serve You.

For the LORD
is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.
Psalm 113:4 NLT

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Philippians 3:15-21 NLT

Meditate. Consider spiritual maturity.

Is your god your appetite? Sometimes I just live to eat…and eat to live. Just as Paul was describing in this letter to the Philippians, there is so much more to life than what is right before us. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we became citizens of Heaven. Personally, I am eagerly waiting for His return—but I do feel a burden that I need to share Christ with others while there is still time. Do I need to head for the local parks where the homeless hang out and take along food and water and gospel tracts for them? What should I be doing? How can I serve or minister to my neighbors next door…or down the street? I am eager to go to Heaven, but I want to take as many people with me as possible.

Changed bodies! What a glorious sight that will be. Paul writes more about this transformation to the church at Corinth and to the followers in Galatia.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 NLT

 

It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God's peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. Galatians 6:15-16 NLT

 

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT

Rejoice in this new life that Christ has given us. Choose to know more of Christ each day—growing deeper in your relationship with Him—becoming spiritually mature. 

Verse of Salvation ~ Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith. Galatians 6:7-10 NLT

Happy Birthday, Dear Harriett!  Happy Birthday to You!

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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