When people come at us with anger and bitterness and hatred our response reveals where we are in becoming like Christ. We experience God’s grace regardless, but as we mature we learn to feel, be held in those feelings, and process what we experience in such a way that transformation happens, and we respond in love. No doubt this reveals maturity. Let’s discuss how to get there.

Becoming fully mature in Christ is a lifelong process full of mystery and under the sovereignty of God but it does not have to be shrouded in vagueness. We can describe signs of maturity. In this post we look at the process of coming to peace with complexity and how that allows us to empathize with others recognizing we are all in the same boat.

Becoming fully mature in Christ is a lifelong process full of mystery and under the sovereignty of God but it does not have to be shrouded in vagueness. We can describe signs of maturity. Two of those are gratitude and joy which is shown in how we enjoy life. This is not simple but nonetheless we can dive into the topic and unearth the treasures that await us.

How do you know if you are mature? What are you or your community doing to grow people to full maturity in Christ. This is what Paul says is his main goal. In this new series we will look at signs of maturity and how we can become mature people without making maturity an idol.

Each day is a new beginning, a remaking of the world in which we partner with God as co-creators. He invites into this mindset. Let’s explore this through Genesis 1 and the Jesus’ resurrection and begin each day with God’s vision.

Z is for Zeal. Growing in Christlikeness means becoming the kind of person who is zealous with knowledge. How do we stay in the tension with God to become both full of zeal but also measured, diligent, and humble. This is the call and the challenge.

Y is for Yield. Yield has two meanings - to give in and harvest - and both are prominent in the Bible. What we yield to determines the kind of harvest we will yield. The fruit we produce is a sign of our growth and maturity or lack thereof. Let it point us to Jesus either way and grow accordingly.

X is for Christ. Consider him. How do you see him? Spend time with him. Enjoy Jesus. Becoming like him is the goal or our lives.

W is for Wait. Why is waiting so difficult for humans? We order our lives around not waiting. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit because it marks faith in God’s sovereign goodness. Our growth in patience is a sign of our growing faith, but it comes with interior work and a recognition of God’s grace.

V is for Victorious. Maybe the idea of the victorious Christian life doesn’t sit well with you. The victory we have in Christ is full of nuance and mystery. When God saves the day with a miracle, we experience victory; when God allows suffering and heartache and darkness to reign, and we stay faithful, that is victory as well. The call is to a kingdom view of victory. God is victory so being with him is victorious.

U is for Unusual. In life we can get lost in seeking the new and shiny things. We idolize the unusual without realizing it is an unsatisfying hamster wheel. God is truly unusual and his creation is wonderful. Learning to live in a state of wonder with the “ordinary” and being content with what God provides are signs of growing maturity in Christ.

T is for Tulip. Spiritual formation is about slowing down, enjoying God’s bountiful creation, reflecting on beauty, and learning from experience. The tulip teaches us all of these things.

S is for Slow. Our world is addicted to speed but God is calling us to slow down because deep connection and loving relationships and spiritual intimacy can’t happen when we are in a hurry. We can take a few steps to change this but the first is to consider our metaphors…

R is for Rule. Everyone has a rule of life whether they are aware of it or not. Living intentionally with awareness in our walk with God and with our neighbors is a choice we can make. What practices move us towards love and how do we get there. Let’s consider these ideas.

Q is for Question. As we mature in Christlikeness, we ask different questions and expect different answers or maybe no answers at all. The questions move us to sit with God and be with him. This is a sign of a growing awareness and acceptance of mystery and ambiguity in life.

P is for Party & Power. Growing in Christlikeness means enjoying life. Celebration becomes a significant part of life. We become the kind of people who celebrate. And we learn how to diffuse and multiply power.

O is for Outside. As we grow in Christ we need to consider what it means to go “outside the camp” like Jesus did. How is he calling me and you to go outside the norms of our context?

N is for Narrative. As humans we live in stories, narratives in our heads that guide how we interpret and engage with the world. Our mental models come from these narratives. One sign of maturing in Christ is a growing awareness of these narratives and more and more aligning them with the Biblical narrative.

M is for Mental Models. One sign of growing maturity is awareness of our mental models or the lenses through which we see the world. Recognizing our filters, moving towards alignment with the Bible/Truth, and creating systems within our community to do this is vital for healthy, loving growth.

L is for listen. As humans we feel loved when someone deeply listens to us, but most of us don’t have that someone. We can become good listeners which includes both skills and mindset and is a sign of maturity. God calls us to love in this way and will empower us as we make space to encounter him.