The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 13 February 2020 – TOPIC: CHRISTIAN MATURITY

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DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020
TOPIC: CHRISTIAN MATURITY
READ: EPHESIANS 4:1-12 (NKJV)

1. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2. with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6. one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.
7. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
9. (Now this, “He ascended” — what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10. He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11. And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

THE MESSAGE:

It is a fact that growth and maturity are characteristics expected of any living thing. Paul’s target as a labourer was to see Christ formed in these young believers (Galatians 4:19). Christian maturity hence can be simply described as formation of Christ in us. A mature Christian is known by the life he/she lives; a life worthy of the calling characterised by humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, unity and peace (verses 2 & 3). Christian maturity is a virtue that is critically needed among the people of God in these last days if the Church must rise up to the Great Commission that was handed over to her. To do this, it is important that we recognise that Christianity is all about one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God (verses 4-6).

Christian maturity brings about maturity in Christian service. Christians worldwide are called upon to understand that what makes for a mature service includes recognising the fact that we have all received the gifts we operate today. It does not therefore call for any form of pride or self-centeredness. Also we have been gifted in order to equip our fellow saints for the work of the ministry and further building up of the body of Christ. We should make this our target. That way, the Church can look beyond some of the negative attitudes in her which project her as immature.

PRAYER: O Lord, it is my sincere desire that Christ be fully formed in me and may I in turn be a worthy vessel in Your hands to build others up through the free gifts You have given to me. Amen.