Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we had a wonderful time in worship as we praised the Lord together and thanked Him for who He is and for His faithfulness to His children. We then looked in 1 Corinthians 3 and thought about true maturity contrasted with worldly wisdom. True maturity in Christ focuses on following Jesus and not any man or system. True maturity is more than Biblical knowledge but involves growing in Christlike character. True maturity in Christ reveals itself in the believer manifesting increasingly the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” (Galatians 5:22-23). True maturity rejects the wisdom of the world which is folly. True maturity embraces the foolishness of the cross and resurrection of Jesus, which is the power of God to salvation for all who believe. True maturity is genuine godly wisdom. I do not want us to just think we are wise people. I want us to be a truly wise people who understand that true wisdom and power are found in the cross and resurrection of Jesus. I want us to grow intellectually in our understanding of God, but I want, more than that, for us to also grow to be more like Jesus. I want us to do what Philippians 2 instructs us. It tells us to have “the mind in us that was in Christ Jesus.” It tells us to seek to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves.” It tells us to, “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.” I want us to be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. I want us to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and invest in others and eternity. I do not want us to waste our lives. Maturing children of God walk in humility and unselfish love knowing all we possess because we belong to Jesus.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church