Is Maturing As a Christian Within the Realm of Possibility?

Do you desire to be an excellent husband or wife? Has that status eluded you? The prospect for becoming an excellent spouse is crucially linked to knowing and understanding the person to whom you are married, in addition to actually knowing yourself.

How do you get to know another person? The short answer is spending enough time together for personality quirks to become obvious. It’s not a matter of whether flaws exist, but if there is enough patience, love, and tolerance to accept what may never change.

Strengths and weaknesses are often the source for disagreements, but from these, an excellent relationship can be pursued. The Apostle Paul explains how excellence evolves: “Forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.” 

Paul gives hope and meaning to accountability as he pursues excellence, as you can do.

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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

~1 Peter 2:9 New International Version  

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What Is Actually Involved in Maturing As a Christian?

Learning is expansive and never-ending, provided the desire to grow and mature remains active. Dr. Michael DeBakey inferred that watching television was not advantageous to learning because most programming is designed to be entertaining.

I learned the definition for a disciple was to be a learner. Jesus began his ministry by calling disciples.

These men walked and talked with Jesus. They listened to his sermons and observed as he responded to those in need of healing. They listened to his critics. 

Accepting accountability for maturing includes stretching for excellence in your walk with Christ. Listen to the Apostle Paul: “Not that I have already obtained all of this or have been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of me.” To press on means to actively grow in knowledge to discover the purpose and significance of Christ Jesus coming into your life.

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So we are not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 

~2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message 

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Is Achieving Partial Excellence Acceptable?

After being discharged from the Air Force I enrolled at a Christian college to pursue a degree I believed was God’s plan and purpose for me. The student leadership included those who encouraged others to strive for excellence in their walk with Christ.

Defining excellence as perfection in thinking, beliefs, and actions was an appropriate objective for student leaders but was difficult to grasp for the student body. Seeking spiritual excellence implies the pursuit of maturity that impacts accountability in all areas of life.

Listen to the Apostle Paul’s struggle with yearning to be accountable to Christ. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death.” Try to grasp the depth of his desire. Accountability depends on the desire to grow and mature as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins, and not only for our sins but for the sins of all the world.

 ~1 John 2:1-2. New Living Translation  

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Is Keeping Your Thoughts Completely Pure Possible?

When my brother was twelve, he found a large sum of money outside a privately owned store. He informed the store owner if anyone could identify the cash amount, he would return it. Weeks later the money was never claimed, so it was my brother’s to keep.

My brother wanted to have a clear conscience. Listen to Romans 8:6. “If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are controlled by the Holy Spirit, we will have life and peace.” Jesus confirms: “It isn’t what’s on the outside that condemns a person, but what’s on the inside.”

It’s difficult to constantly have pure thoughts, but it’s a worthy goal that honors God. Romans 12:2 affirms that your mind can be renewed and made clean by the power of Christ within you. Shakespeare proclaimed, “To yourself be true," but this can be surpassed by committing yourself to being “faithful and true to Jesus Christ, who redeemed you.”

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Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 

~Proverbs 4:23-24 New International Version  

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What Gives Evidence of Your Redeemed Character?

Thoughts can affect your brain chemistry in significant ways. Someone confided that Sunday evening was the worst part of their week. Anticipating the challenges of their work schedule was emotionally draining even before the week began.

Making mistakes was out of the question for this person, so anything other than self-imposed excellence was unacceptable. These thoughts produced levels of anxiety that often seemed beyond containing. Aspiring for perfection is a worthy goal but indicates improvement is required.

While standing in the security line at the airport, a friend stepped on an expensive wedding ring.  He could have thought, “How fortunate!” but failure in character would be inexcusable. A frantic woman just ahead of him breathed a sigh of relief as she reclaimed her treasure she thought was lost forever.

By “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you,” you give evidence your character is being redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ.                

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But now, this is what the Lord says – he  who created you…he who formed you… “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” 

Isaiah 43:1 New International Version

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What Is a Formula for Change You Would Follow?

It’s important to believe that the capacity for excellence is available to believers in Christ Jesus. So what qualifies a person for excellence? The mindset for excellence depends on your desire for faith made possible through the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Striving for spiritual excellence may seem impossible due to the conflict of living up to the highest biblical standards and God’s grace and mercy. Becoming frustrated and irritable can appear to nullify the most ideal objectives and sabotage the best of intentions.

Would you like to know how to get back on track? Be pro-active in replacing negative thoughts and feelings these with these thoughts and feelings from Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true and admirable, noble and lovely, pure and right, if anything is excellent and praiseworthy, think on these things.” Practice these truths until they become genuine.

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For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

~Ephesians 2:10 New International Version

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Are God's Standards Too Difficult to Honor?

Someone recently proclaimed, “I owe it to myself to get as much out of life as possible. I intend to live life to the fullest.” These words echoed a familiar mantra from two groups. The first group has little regard for accountability. Reminds me of the prodigal son.

In the second group, how they measure up is decided by God himself. Stop and think for a moment how you rank yourself as a member of the family of Jesus Christ. Consider how you serve, the courage you expend in seeking excellence in all areas of your life.

Revelation 2:4-5 refers to a group of Christians who compromised their faith. When they tried to infiltrate the church at Ephesus, their attempt was rejected. Those faithful to Christ believed a day of reckoning was coming for failing to uphold the values of Christ. Never compromise or turn loose of your love for Christ. 

In him there is peace and security.

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Whatever you do, work at it with [your whole being], as though you were working for the Lord God and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people.

 ~Colossians 3:23-24 Good News Bible 

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