Maturity Rewarded

I measure spiritual maturity by how quickly a person responds to a situation with an answer that is birthed in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The situation could be opportunity, danger, or insult. If the response doesn’t come forth under the influence of the Spirit’s character, it will be carnal and immature. The more quickly the response comes, the more maturity is evidenced.

A byproduct of this maturity is access to greater things than less mature believers experience. Judas followed his failure of betraying the Lord with further carnality – he could not imagine being forgiven, and ended his life. Peter followed his failure of betraying the Lord by eventually coming out of hiding, and was rewarded in that place of faith with the privilege of becoming a leader.

John, who fled in fear from the garden during the arrest of Jesus, was soon fearless enough to be present during His crucifixion. His proximity put him in place to receive the privilege of becoming Mary’s provider. Further, he was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ when he was in the Spirit on the island of Patmos.

Be filled with the Spirit and emptied of the power of your flesh. Be awesome. Do greater things than Jesus.