What do you want to be when you grow up? As a child do you remember being asked that question? I do. What about your children? What are you hopes and dream for them? What do you want them to be when they grow up? Sometimes you will hear parents say, ‘I don’t care what they do; I just want my kids to be happy.’ And if we’re honest. We’d probably say we want that for ourselves too – to be happy.
Growing up is hard, harder for some of us than others, it sometimes seems. Growing up as a Christian is hard too. Paul was concerned that the believers in the early church not stay as babes in their faith, 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. Peter had this same concern for those he ministered to, 1 Peter 2:2. These men wanted believers to grow up and mature. So what are the characteristic of a mature Christians? Here are 7.
1. Strong trust in God –
Mature Christians have a strong trust in God. This is the sort of faith those in Thessalonica had, 1 Thessalonians 1:8. It was such that others had heard of their faith. Their faith had an impact as they waited for the return of Jesus. The trust in God shaped their lives. I have friends like that. Their trust in God has shaped the choices and decisions they have made and the life they have lived. I’d like to think the same is true in my life. Wouldn’t you like to think it was true in your life? Can you see any evidence this is so?
2. Love –
Not just the romantic twaddle that passes for love on our movie screens, but a real deep abiding love and concern for others. Love such as Paul had for his converts, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, Galatians 4:19. Mature Christians love like that – not looking out for their own interests but for the welfare of others.
Join me next time for the remaining 5 marks of the mature Christian.
Bible verses from New American Standard Version
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