The Good Of The Father (The Mature Spirit) # 1951

 

I am writing to you, little children, seeing that your sins have been forgiven you through His name.  I am writing to you, Fathers, seeing that you know Him Who is from the beginning.  I am writing to you, youths, seeing that you have conquered the wicked one.  I write to you, little children, seeing that you know the Father.  I write to you, fathers, seeing that you know Him Who is from the beginning.  I write to you, youths, seeing that you are strong and the word of God is remaining in you, and you have conquered the wicked one 

First Epistle of John 2: 12-14, Concordant New Testament 

What does it mean to have a mature spirit?  The first time I recall hearing of this concept was in a Sunday sermon where I was half paying attention and half asleep.  But something about that pastors words caught my attention.  Spiritual maturity?  What was that?  Well, I believe that we can associate our own spiritual maturity in how well grounded we are in our knowing of Him.  The apostle John speaks to some different levels of this spiritual maturity as well {First Epistle of John 2:12-14}.  He speaks to the "Little children" who have that basic knowing that their sins have forgiven through Christ Jesus {First Epistle of John 2:12}.  He speaks to the "Youths" who have become strong and the is remaining in them {First Epistle of John 2:14}.  He speaks to those as "Fathers" who have known Him Who is from the beginning {First Epistle of John 2:13}.  I believe that the apostle refers to his readers in this way in order to illustrate their level of spiritual maturity.  As young Christians, we may begin to understand the truth of our sins being forgiven.  As we grow older, our own spiritual maturity will certainly increase if we remain in the Lord.  Obviously, there is no age timeline for when we advance in our maturity, although it is important that we continue to be in the knowledge of the Father.  As I contemplated my own spiritual maturity recently, I began to wonder if I had indeed reached that "Father" status.  According to the apostle, a father knows Who is from the beginning {Johns Account 1:1-3}.  As I've come to grow in the knowledge of the Lord, I have also come to know Him in a more intimate way.  I now believe that my live my life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  Indeed, this is the  knowing Who is from the beginning.  Many in the church would refer to this as spiritual growth.  

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual, but as to fleshy, as to minors in Christ.  Milk I give you to drink, not solid food, for not as yet were you able.  Nay, still, not even now are you able, for you are still fleshly, for there is jealously and strife among you, are you not fleshly and walking according to man? 

Paul to the Corinthians (1) 3:1-3, Concordant New Testament 

The apostle Paul writes in Corinthians to those he refers to as "Minors in Christ" {Paul to the Corinthians (1) 3:1}.  These are believers whom Paul could not speak to in a spiritual way, as they were still following the urges of the flesh despite being believers.  The "Solid food" of his evangel would not have been understood by these immature young believers.  Who has not been in the company of brand new believers?  Their energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration to us all.  I can recall being excited as a young believer myself.  But what happens then?  Far too often, those excited new believers get bogged down in the theology of the church or simply continue in the ways of the world.  They understand and celebrate that their sins have been forgiven, but they are not mature enough to know the truth of the Father or Paul's evangel.  There is a reason that my own journey to knowing the truth of my life in Him has taken me a good part of fifty years in the making.  I was not mature enough to understand it.  My eyes had yet to be opened.  But, as with Paul, when it delighted God, the truth of my life in Him was revealed unto me {Paul to the Galatians 1:15}.  I now know that there have been many who have prayed that my eyes would be opened to the truth of the Father in me.  I don't consider myself mature by any means, I simply know the truth in my heart. 

~Scott~