Maturity in Christ
Jackie Rettberg
"He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:10-13, NIV).
It is good from time to time to think about what it means to be mature in Christ:
If you are able to be patient, to pass up immediate pleasure for long term gain,
If you can persevere in a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks,
If you can face frustration, discomfort and defeat without complaint,
If you can say “I was wrong,”
If you can make a decision and follow through,
If you keep your word and don’t come up with alibis when you fail,
If you can take criticism and advice,
If you can forgive without resentment,
Then you can say, “I am on the way to attaining the full measure of Christ.”