Read pgs 80 - 83 in the 30DCC Guidebook
"In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world -- just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace." Colossians 1:6
Today's devotional reading reminds us of what it's like to grow up. As we get further away from our childhood and adolescence, it's easy to forget just how hard that process can be. Sometimes, we doubt our own "maturity," and that of people around us. What does maturity mean, anyway?
Spiritually speaking, I always think of the "fruits of the Spirit." Using the metaphor of a plant, it is classified as mature when it begins to bear fruit and reproduce. That's the "fruit" image used by scripture.
When I was a kid, I learned a fruits of the Spirit song, and it stuck. I can still remember those things that are listed out in Galatians 5.
These are pretty good markers for maturity in our faith:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
So, how much of those do we have? I know, it can be painful to give an honest answer. I would say that no matter how much we experience those wonderful gifts, we could all use them more often in our lives.
How can that happen? Connection to "the vine." Jesus said that unless branches are connected to the vine, they can't bear fruit. We can understand that. Jesus is that vine. How do we connect? Read the Gospels. Read them again, and then read them again, and maybe one more time. Apply daily. Prayer, lots of it. Relationships with brothers and sisters in the faith who can listen and encourage. Give. Serve.
Maturity means change. It means stretching, and moving, and growth. It may even hurt, a little. But the fruit on the other side is very sweet.
Grace, Peace and Growth,
Adam
Today's Small Step: Ask God to show you who to pray for, and begin praying that God would help you to reach out to them with God's grace and love.
Today's Big Idea: What fears and insecurities could be keeping you from taking steps toward spiritual maturity?
And, a video for today that has nothing to do with anything. I just got up and listened to this again this morning, and man I love these guys. They first recorded together in the early 70's with Jerry Garcia sitting in on banjo. This is a recent reunion concert with the great David Grisman on mandolin.
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