Maturity [2 Corinthians 13:9]

2Co 13:9 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your maturity.

In this verse in Corinthians, Paul tells the Corithian believers that he is praying for their maturity. What does it mean for a Christian to be mature? Let's take a moment and examine this.
The idea given here is a believer that is fully living out the commands of God given in Scripture. Barnes says they are living in such a way that their is not need for discipline to be brought upon them. Their life lines up with God's Word.
Using the illustration of the body, as Paul likes to do, a hand would be acting as a hand. A foot would be acting as a foot. An eye would be acting as an eye. More specifically, those who are merciful would be exercising mercy. Those who give cheerfully, would be giving cheerfully. The body of Christ would be functioning as it was intended to.
Maturity in the life of a believer is more than how much Scripture knowledge we have or how that knowledge is understood. It is how we apply that knowledge in our lives and then in the life of our church.

No Praise for Me Please :) [Acts 14:12]

Act 14:12 And they started to call Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the main speaker.

Paul and Barnabas had just made their way from Iconium to a town called Lystra to preach the gospel (Acts 14:6-7). When they arrived there they found a man who was paralyzed from his waist down, unable to walk (Acts 14:8). After seeing the faith this man had in God's message, Paul declared to him in a loud voice that he had been healed (Acts 14:10). The response of the crowd is interesting. They did not begin to praise the God that Paul was preaching, instead they began to praise Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:13). They were calling them Zeus and Hermes, the Greek gods (Acts 14:12). It would have been very easy for Paul and Barnabas at this point to take credit for the healing of the man. They could have claimed that it was by their power, instead they were disgusted by the crowds response (Acts 14:14). He explained to them that it was not by their power that these miracles were done, but by the power of the living God.

Believers need to give all credit to God for everything He is doing around and through us. Make sure people are aware that it is by the power of God we can do what we do and couldn't by any abilities of our own. Follow the example of Paul and Barnabas in this passage and defer the praise to God for all good things in your life.

Free Will/ Freedom [Genesis 3:6]

Gen 3:6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

One of the greatest blessings that God gave man was our ability to make choices, our “free will” as some like to call it. The problem is man has taken this free will and distorted it and actually made it a “curse.” Humans tend to like their freedom and as we see in the story of the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve quite a bit of freedom and the ability to choose. The only thing He asked was that they stay away from one tree. Why? Because the result would be death. Do you think Adam did not believe God? Even though the serpent told them otherwise, you still would think they would believe the one who created them! No, they made a choice because they wanted their freedom. With that choice came the consequences that God had promised: death. Physical death? Eventually. Spiritual death? Right then. He had given them a lot of freedom and the ability to choose within the that freedom, but they disobeyed.

God has given believers a lot of freedom within our lives. There are things that He allows us to do and things that He forbids. Why? Because He is protecting us. While sin may only last for a moment, consequences last a lot longer, even a lifetime.

Obey God. It’s so much easier.

Devotion [Acts 2:42]

Act 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.

What does devoted mean? To be loyal to; dedicated; faithful; to someone or something. In the onset of the early church, we read about a mass conversion of people to Christianity (at least 3000) on the day of Pentecost. Immediately following that event, we learn what the new believers devoted their lives to. First, they devoted themselves to learning about God’s Word. Second, they made it a priority to spend time with other believers in fellowship and over meals. They were developing relationships with other Christians. Finally, they were spending time in prayer. The text does not say in prayer for what exactly, but I think it is safe to assume they were praying for each other and themselves.
What holds your devotion? Many of us would probably say our job or our family or some other activity, but how many of us can honestly say that God or His church holds our devotion? The early church gave us an excellent model of what we should strive for and seek to model. Take a moment and examine your life. Where is your devotion?

Aaron

Christian Camp Experience [Galatians 4:11-20]

[11] I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. [12] I beg you, brothers: become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; [13] you know that previously I preached the gospel to you in physical weakness, [14] and though my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. [15] What happened to this blessedness of yours? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. [16] Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? [17] They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. [18] Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you. [19] My children, again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you. [20] I'd like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you.

Have you ever heard of the “Christian Camp Experience?” When we go to camp it is almost impossible not to get fired up for God. For an entire week you are surrounded by Christians, great teaching, and feeding off of each others enthusiasm. Our walk with Jesus goes to an entirely new level. Then what happens most of the time? We come back and stay fired up for a couple weeks. Why is that? Most of the time its distractions. We loose the focus that we had. Other things overtake what we finally had as most important. Our desire to become like Christ slowly fades.
This is similar to what Paul is writing the Galatians about. When he was visiting and preaching to them, they were on fire for Jesus. They were walking examples of Christ. Paul even throws in a little humor by saying they would have “torn out their eyes” and given them to him. They were literally holding nothing back to glorify God. Then what happened? Paul left. They got distracted by other teachings and their focus on Christ slowly faded.
Everyone reading this can certainly remember a time when they were growing rapidly in their walk with Jesus. Has that faded? Have you wandered from your “Christian Camp Experience?” Surround yourselves with Christian that can keep you accountable and keep you growing.

Aaron

Why do you love Him? [1 Peter 1:8]

1Pe 1:8 You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.

Is it possible to love someone you have not seen? What is it about Christ that compels us to love Him having not seen Him physically? What is it about Christ that would make us even take notice of Him?

First, His love was displayed to us by the giving of himself. His love was express in sacrificial gift of His life. (John 3:16)

Second, His death set us free from the chains of sin. We are no longer slaves to sin, but to Christ. (Romans 6:17-18)

Third, He experienced the life of a human. He lived 33 years among His creation with temptation breathing down His neck. He did this so He could comfort me in my times of temptation and affliction in this life. (Hebrews 2:6-9)

Fourth, He allows me to have fellowship with Him. Christ bridged the gap between God and us. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

The list of the ways God showed His love for us is unending, but the statement remains, “You love Him though you have not seen Him” Why?

We love [Him] because He first loved us. [1 John 4:19]

How do you express that love to Him? What about those who haven’t experienced His love?

Aaron Taylor

The Christian Life

“Which is best—To fight for a short time, to carry stakes for the stockade, to bear arms, and to faint under heavy battles in order to rejoice as victors forever, or to become slaves forever because we can’t endure for a single hour?” –Jerome

Is the Christian life worth it?

You tell me.

Aaron