Let us continue to grow

By EPELI SAUKURU
Fiji Mission Secretary

THE word maturity is derived from the word mature, which means fully developed physically, full-grown, or having reached the most advanced stage in a process.

When applied to men — a mature person bases their relationships and decisions on principles and not pressure from others with emotional control.

He/she does not react poorly,physically or verbally, when embarrassed or upset, and accepts accountability for their deeds.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means adulthood and full development.

As we draw closer to the end of this quinquennium, let us pause and reflect on our spiritual condition as individuals, families,as a local church and mission.

Have we really progressed as a local church or mission?

We may have failed at times,and as a result, lose credibility in our community and wrongly perceived in some aspect.Spiritual maturity is a process of total obedience to God’s will,rather than merely the passing of time.

It includes a change from living primarily through self-ambitions, but by the Spirit, allowing God to use us fully. Spiritual maturity is the result of a close and deep relationship with Jesus, the leading of the Holy Spirit – living in submission to God’s will.

Christian author Oswald Chambers once wrote: “Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God. Some people mature into an understanding of God’s will more quickly than others because they obey more readily; they more readily sacrifice the life of nature to the will of God.”

Our maturity is not measured by the years spent in church or positions held, it is measured by bearing fruits and growth.

The Adventist church is synonymous with mission, and mission is the pulse of the church. We believe God is not asking us commanding us “to go for Him”.

When we ask, doubt, and disobey God’s command, it is a sign of lack of growth and maturity.

Sister White in her writing in Our Father Cares, page 248 wrote: “If we come to God in faith, He will receive us and give us strength to climb upward to perfection. If we watch every word and action, that we may ‘Let us continue to grow’ do nothing to dishonor the One who has trusted us, if we improve every opportunity granted us, we shall grow into the full stature of men and women in Christ.”

Dear brethren, let us continue to pray that God will help us grow in His wisdom to become the church He wants us to be.

To be the light and salt to the world.

Let us amend what needs amending and correct the wrong.

Let us say yes to the mission, what to do and where to go.

Let us give what is to be given and don’t question what to receive. Let us grow spiritually and allow God to lead us to him and fulfill His will.

Paul admonished Corinthians and wrote, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”

2 Peter 3:18 states; “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Let us continue to grow together into maturity.