Maturation Process part 3
"Let's be mature about this." I'm sure we've all probably heard--or perhaps said--that at one time or another. And usually what that seems to mean is, "Accept something you don't like without making a fuss about it." And I can see the wisdom in that. Sometimes things happen that you don't like. And sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. So rather than banging your head against the wall (and only getting a headache as a result), we should handle adverse situations with grace and poise. But I think there's something deeper. Always deeper. I think there's a more excellent way. Just as grace--the unmerited favor of God, the divine influence upon the heart and it's reflection in the life--is much more than a rug that we sweep "sin" under, maturity is much more than just not throwing a fit when things don't go your way. Look at John 17:22-23 in the MSG, "The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they'll be as unified and together as we are-- I in them and you in me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you've sent me and loved them In the same way you've loved me." THAT'S what true maturity is all about. It's all about oneness. It's all about the total and complete lack of separation between the Father (God, love) and the Son (us, Jesus). That's who Jesus IS; God in the flesh, love in a body. God in OUR flesh, love in OUR body. And look at the REASON for maturity: to give the godless world evidence of the Father's love for the Son. That's why Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Stop me if you've heard this one before, but it's all about love. To be truly mature is to love one another with the love that we are loved with by the Father. To receive and release His love. To obey the New Commandment. To let the perfect law of liberty rule and reign in our lives. To rule and reign as kings and priests on this earth. And look at the key to all of it: "The same glory you gave me, I gave them." Maturity isn't something we lack, but something we can earn. Maturity is something we already have, and simply need to grow in. 2 Peter 3:18 says it like this, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." The maturation process is a process of discovering how mature we really are! Looking into the mirror with an unveiled face and seeing the glory of God--that we've already been given--and being "changed" into that same image FROM glory TO glory. We start at glory. We start at mature. We start at the finish line! And then we run the race with the assurance of victory. Not front to back, but back to front. We are not trying to win. We already did, when Jesus won the war to end all wars on the cross both for us and as us. We are simply coming into the understanding of what His victory means. We are growing IN grace. Not growing grace so we can have some. We are full of Him, but we are filling ourselves with His fulness. In an experiential way. Not head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Going through things so we can GROW through things. So we can help others through those same things. Let's be mature about this... and love one another!