Are You Acting Your Age?

Have you ever heard someone say, "Act your age?"  We seem to have trouble when people don't act in a manner that is fitting for their age.  We sometimes see this in middle-aged mothers who dress like their teenage daughters,  adults complaining and whining like toddlers when they don't get their way, or little children made up like adults in glamour contests.  It bothers us when normal human growth and development is either stunted or forced ahead.

On the other hand, we aren't as concerned when those who claim the name of Christ aren't acting their spiritual age. It is amazing that spiritual maturity has nothing to do with how long a person has been saved.  Sad to say, we have some thirty-year believers who are immature in their faith and those much younger in the faith who have a more mature faith.

In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul reminds us that we are to "live up to what we have already attained."  None of us will attain all God has for us until eternity.  However, we should be living out the truth of God's word and direction that we know now.  We must continue to grow in what we know to be His truth in our lives.  Yet,  we should never try to project an  outward spirituality that is not an inner reality in our lives.

As we are faithful, God matures us to bring us to a place where our life is exchanged for Christ's life in us.  Paul states in this chapter that he considers everything "a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ . . . I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own , , , which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God."

Like Paul ,we must press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us.  Why?  A heavenly prize awaits.  This Sunday we will explore how we can live up to the level God has us and what to expect as we mature in Christ.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Jeff