DOES MATURITY JUST HAPPEN?

Love this mature big girl.

"I can't wait to be older" she sighed.

And I knew what she meant.  I stopped getting ready for the day and looked at my little girl sympathetically.  

She was again yearning to be seen as older.  To trade in her pink Salt-Water sandals for a pair of heels.  To hold the baton of authority and conduct her little sisters as her oldest sister now does skillfully.  And maybe even have her daddy say yes to nail polish that wasn't the palest shade of pink.  

But she had lost sight of something.  As she yearned to press toward the outward signs of growth, she was forgetting that the real goal is maturity and not just physical age.  

SPIRITUAL MATURITY

"I understand, but remember that your goal is not just to get older, but to mature."  

"Oh ya..."  I began to see the old fog lifting.  "What does that mean again?"

And we began talking about maturity- you know that esteeming others more highly than yourself and submission to authority business that actually earns us the trust to move us forward?

I think it is tempting to hope that time itself- with its accumulated experiences- will somehow just develop maturity in our children.  But my experience is that it takes real effort and aiming toward that goal.

We are all in the process of maturing (hopefully!). And here are some goals worth aiming our children toward:



1.  Be an example in speech, life and purity.  "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."  1 Timothy 4:12

2.  Give preference to others. "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."  Romans 12:10

3.  Cheerfully submit to authority. Cheerful submission to mom and dad now is great practice for cheerful submission to their authorities later!   "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."  Hebrews 13:7 




To name our top three.  

We've had the girls memorize and often repeat Romans 12:9-21 which also highlights some of the maturity goals we value:

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.    

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  

not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;If he is thirsty, give him a drink;For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Of course the beautiful fact is, that we cannot just behave rightly.  It drives us to Christ- which is exactly what we hope will happen in our children.

John MacArthur has said: 


Godly character is not the result of good intentions, wishful thinking, some mystical 'zap' or even sheer Bible knowledge.  It's developed through the self-disciplined application of God's Word at the very basic level, enabled and empowered by God's Spirit.


Maturity doesn't just happen in us, so I wonder why we are so tempted to think it will just happen in our children...


May you be blessed friends,

  


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Our dear friends, the Harders, have another Lamplighter book give away in progress.  Hop on over there between now and December 12, 2012 for a chance to win one of two hardcover books!