Wheels of Glory! Blog

The Holiness Measure: Maturity (pt 2) – VOTD.07.19.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | July 19th, 2016 | by

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3)

Last time we concluded that in Jesus we can walk in freedom, not because we can’t sin anymore, but because we now CAN walk in holiness. Freedom is another way of saying we have been separated from (hate) our sin.

In the same way, “hating sin” (being separated from sin) is not a matter of will. When we encounter the cross of Jesus and we find that we are are crucified with Him we find we are now living at this moment by the same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. This cannot be accomplished through human effort. Hating sin (being separated from sin) is a natural consequence of knowing and loving God.

When I talk about this with other Christians, some know exactly what I’m saying and others have this look of incredulity or “whatever works for you…”. They don’t seem to be able to relate to it in their personal experience. (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

The Holiness Measure: Maturity (pt 1) – VOTD.07.18.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | July 18th, 2016 | by

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!… But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:15-18

There’s an internet meme that says: I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience. I’m not sure the origin of that was entirely Christian but it speaks to a truth that less mature Christians often miss.

In fact, less mature Christians nearly always get the matter of holiness wrong because (as I mentioned earlier in this series) we usually see maturity as something we do, rather than something that we are. So we can fake a lot of Christian behavior and often Christian teachers encourage this “behavior modification” approach to “Christian” living on young believers rather than the transformation from the inside that God wants for each of us. (more…)

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The Love Measure: Maturity (pt 2) – VOTD.07.12.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | July 12th, 2016 | by

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian… Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.  Galatians 3:23-25

We’re talking about loving God and its relationship to Christian maturity. A child is little more than a slave until he or she comes of age. A guardian directs their lives (Gal 4: 1-7). The rules Paul scatters through his writings are like that. They take care of us and show us the way when we are immature. But with maturity comes the freedom of loving God more exclusively and passionately, so that “Love God and do as you please” becomes no longer a phrase, flippantly thrown around to get what we want, but a truth that is manifested in our lives.

For example, when we love our children, we take care of their needs, protect them, even do things to bring them pleasure… Now, at the same time there are some government laws to protect children, but they are totally unnecessary if we love our children. We don’t need those laws. (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

The Freedom Measure: Maturity (pt 2) – VOTD.07.05.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | July 8th, 2016 | by

 …The truth will set you free…Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians. 5:1

Augustine said that true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but the ability to be what we are meant to be. Therefore, he reasoned, humans were created in the image of God, so true freedom is found in living it out. In other words, the closer we conform to Jesus, the freer we become. The farther we drift from this, the more our freedom shrinks.

Not to disagree with Augustine, but I think this is only one part of the vast subject of Christian freedom. “The truth will set you free”. Jesus is the truth and He does set us free. No question about that. He found freedom in doing what He saw His Father doing, and we find freedom in doing what Jesus is doing (Jn 5:19).

But another element of Christian freedom that is central to Christian maturity is found in His presence, as 2 Cor 3:17 points out. What we were recreated in Jesus for is “to love God and enjoy Him forever”. This goes beyond anything the the image of God within us to the purpose of God for us. (more…)

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The Freedom Measure: Maturity – VOTD.07.04.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | July 4th, 2016 | by

One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. Romans 14:2

In Romans 14 Paul turns the tables on those who treat duty, disciplines and deprivation as a sign of Christian maturity. In fact, he shows this sort of thing to be a sign of weakness. This former Pharisee, who had once celebrated self-denial, had come to understand that Christian maturity leads to freedom and is lived out in freedom.

Many Christians live in a kind of slavery despite Jesus’ promise that we “are extremely free” because He has set us free (Jn 8:36). They remain slaves to other masters. Unhealthy commitments and relationships (even within our churches); unhealthy attitudes (festering resentment, self-pity over past hurts and disappointments, bitterness); other addictions, affluences, etc.

They reward themselves and each other on the level of self-righteousness they have attained rather than walking in the Holy Spirit’s liberty; “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17) (more…)

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The ‘Real-Deal’ Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.27.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | June 28th, 2016 | by

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.  Philippians 3:15

In today’s verse, Paul is summarizing his previous statements and setting the stage for what he’s about to say…and it’s all about maturity. The entire context is hard to describe in a short meditation. You’ll have to read the chapter for yourself.  But I want to emphasize one thing that keeps reappearing in this passage in various forms: Realness.

Mature Christians are real. They aren’t playing the game. They’re genuinely, 24/7 into their relationship with Jesus.

“Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” (vv. 19,20)

Many Christians are into fake. They’re far too busy obsessing over fake people, winning fake championships, and conquering fake territory, to be intimate with a very real Jesus and find themselves in Him. Having shunned what is real, their minds are set on earthly things…silly things…irrelevant things. (more…)

Wheels of Glory! Blog

VOTD.06.27.16 The Commonplace Measure: Maturity

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | June 27th, 2016 | by

For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  Philippians 4:11,12

Most growing Christians do pretty well when things are progressing along—or even when things are falling apart. During the wonderful times we’re overwhelmed with God’s goodness; in the crisis we cry out to Him, expecting His rescue. It’s often the “in-between” that challenges us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Paul probably knew plenty of Christians who were devoted when he was having meetings in their town. But many of his letters are addressed to these very Christians, urging them to not fall into stagnation after he’d left. Similarly, his writings often consider the trials Christians were facing. (more…)

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The Peace Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.21.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | June 21st, 2016 | by

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Mature Christians are at peace with situations beyond their control. This may be one of the more underrated measures of spiritual maturity. Just Google CNN, BBC or some other news outlet. You probably watched or read stories about terrorists, wars, famine and the downward spiral of political leaders and everything in between.

Are we living in hard times? Undoubtedly. Are the acts reported on the news awful? Often they are beyond awful, they are heinous. But mature Christians’ lives and peace are not derailed by latest buzz on the news. They don’t waste time worrying and coming unglued over situations beyond their control. (more…)

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The Recognition Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.20.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | June 20th, 2016 | by

Many even among the leaders believed in him (Jesus). But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. John 12:42,43

The Bible consistently presents God to us as a Father. And I don’t know any father who doesn’t like seeing his children recognized for their achievements or honored in their triumphs. I suspect God is the same way. But the praise and recognition of others is easily intoxicating. Often (usually?) it is delightful to our ears, because we like being recognized favorably so much that negative opinions others have of us or our opinions irk us—they keep us awake at night. As a result, we often make choices that are driven by the approval of people more than the approval of God (John 12:43).

When talented or popular people look in the mirror, they’re tempted to see someone who has arrived because other people treat them as if they’re someone special. But in the ‘mirror’ of the Bible we see that we all have fallen short of glory—the kind of glory that matters (Rom 3:23). (more…)

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The Respect Measure: Maturity – VOTD.06.14.16

Posted in Christian Maturity, Verse of the Day | June 14th, 2016 | by

Be devoted to one another in love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Spiritual maturity is not the display of our gift, but the way we love. You don’t have to look hard to find people who are profoundly gifted but lack love; even common curtesy seems to elude them. Maturity isn’t about impressive positions in ministry/ politics/ business or power or influence or any of those things that people look up to.

Respect is simply how we treat the people around us—figuring out what makes them feel valued or cared for and treating them that way. Which brings us to relationships. (more…)

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