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's So Important About Self-restraint?

From childhood onward human beings have an inclination to focus on the strengths and weaknesses in themselves and others. Choosing someone to emulate is an essential need, but ironically, that person or group may have weaknesses that minimize their strengths.

Most individuals are subject to self-indulgence, if only marginally, yet practicing self-restraint creates a pathway to peace, contentment, and satisfaction with what God provides. Self-restraint is a character strength that helps you “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but to consider others more important than yourself.”

Self-restraint must continually be nurtured by honoring God and acknowledging that without him you’re vulnerable to falling into sin that’s difficult from which to break free.

When you "seek God with all your heart, he will be found," and that gives you reason to praise him and be thankful. Do that now.                              

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But I discipline my body to keep it under control, lest when I preach [teach, talk] to others, I myself should be disqualified.

~1 Corinthians 9:27 English Standard Version

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

~1 Peter 2:9  English Standard Version 

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A Definable Purpose for Living

It's absolutely imperative for each person to believe they have a clear, definable purpose for living. I'm not implying that there’s a noble destiny for you like God said to Pharaoh of Egypt through Moses: "I have raised you up for this purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Still God has a purpose for everyone regardless of race or social standing, and that purpose will be revealed to you. Baruch Spinoza stated it clearly, "The knowledge and love of God is the ultimate aim from which all our actions should be directed." It is wise for this aim to be ranked first place on your agenda.

What we start out to be in life may get altered by events beyond our control. Looking back, can we see God was shaping our destiny for a good purpose? All of life takes us to a crossroads where we’re permitted to choose God's purpose and plan for us. What a blessing to know your destiny is in his hands! 

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For you have been chosen by God himself – you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own – all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

~1 Peter 2:9 The Living Bible

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The Impact of a New Beginning

When I was in military boot camp, the Drill Sargent’s task was to transform green recruits into disciplined soldiers within a short time frame. This was a new beginning for me that impacted my character and future choices. When God chose to give a new beginning to the Hebrew people in Egypt, he had to create in them a mentality for freedom with choices.

When Moses told Pharaoh to free the Hebrew people, he retorted, “I will not do it!" However, God brought hardships and troubles to Pharaoh, ensuring his will would be honored. Hardships can play a part in helping a person believe in God's deliverance and mercy.

Transformation for the Hebrews included believing they belonged to God and not to Pharaoh, nor to themselves. They belonged to God, and so do you, as 1 Peter 2:9 affirms: "You are God’s own people chosen to proclaim his wonderful acts. He called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." You can believe and trust in this wonderful choice.

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But all of us who are Christians…reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. We are transformed in ever-increasing splendor into his own image, and this is the work of the Lord who is the Spirit.

~2 Corinthians 3:18 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.