October 7, 2023: Working To Mature Others

"Him we proclaim, ... that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  To this I toil..." (Col 1:28–29 ESV).

Mature means a final or complete state. Mature is the concluding result. I have always said that you are backsliding if you are not growing. I am sure some may differ with that statement. But there is no standing still when you think of what you can become in Christ Jesus. It is simply Christ in me, the Hope of Glory, into which I am being transformed! It is a lifetime adventure!

Paul fully understood that to mature the saints, they had to hear the continual message of Christ. There is no other way to be made complete.  Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Therefore, we can and must continually set our eyes upon Him and listen to words about Him so we grow up in Him.

Paul said, "For this, I toil." This is what I labor so hard to do. I pour myself out to see others come to full maturity in Christ. What if we thought that way as parents towards our kids, spouses, one another, or our friends? What if we labored to help each other become more for Him? What if we really worked to help others realize what they have in Christ? The more understanding we have of God and His ways, the more like Him we will become. Let us make it our goal to help everyone reach full maturity in Christ.