As followers of Jesus, we know we've got far to go to grow up spiritually. Can spirituality be measured?
More importantly, how can it be measured? Is it a matter of checking off lists or is it more a matter of the heart?
As kids, we'd be called to the kitchen on occasion to get our height measured. Backs up against the doorframe, our shoulders arched as much as possible, we stood tall while Dad placed a ruler across the top of our heads, scraped the pencil back and forth, and added the date. "Look at that," he'd say, "You are officially taller than your sister (or mom.) Clapping each other on the back, we congratulated ourselves for something we had nothing to do with, and asked for another piece of cake.
"Who's tallest?" had more to do with DNA than if we took our vitamins (or, ate more cake.) Growing happened to us, not because of us.
Pencil marks and dates faded with time and new paint. No longer did we measure. No longer did it matter. What does matter is my spiritual growth. It's a goal worth pursuing.
God entreats me to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (Ephesians 4:1). He had maturity in mind when He created us. God loves us as we are, but too much to let us stay there.
Can a 'worthy' life be measured with a pencil and a list? Some days the mark on the wall shows one thing but my life shows another. I wish all it took was a list. I know how to check things off. But I get discouraged when the same things end up back on the list, things I should have learned by now, reached by now, left off by now.
Spiritual growth is a matter of the heart, but can a heart be measured? I'm not sure. I am sure I never want to stop growing.
RULES VS RELATIONSHIP
I can fool others with my spirituality.
I can't fool God. He doesn't care about how many times I've cooked a meal for a neighbor or given money to a missionary if I do it to get credit in the good-girl box. Jesus warned: "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them…" (Matthew 6:1).
Good deeds are good, but not at the expense of my heart. God measures a worthy life from the inside out.
Samuel had his pencil and ruler out ready to pick the next king of Israel, when God said, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7).
Rather than a lot of do's and don't's, Scripture provides boundaries within which we can make godly heart decisions. Paying attention to those boundaries is a way to grow up spiritually.
Awhile back I was licking a wound a friend had inflicted on me. I'm so glad I didn't react, I thought, and say something back in anger. After all, I was grown up now. I knew how to behave.
After licking a little while longer and quietly commending my own maturity level, I did the next spiritual thing: I prayed. "Lord, show me what to say to her next time I see her." It would be tricky. She was my friend, and she hurt me. I thought of a few different approaches while waiting for God's answer. I even visualized her response: "Oh, yes, I see I was wrong, I'm so sorry."
When God answered my prayer, it wasn't what I expected. He reminded me that I, too, was guilty of this same behavior. Not only that, I was self-righteous in that behavior; thus, had never repented.
God guided me into more than one boundary:
"Judge not, that you be not judged"(Matthew 7:1) and "Outdo one another in showing honor" (Romans 12:10) as well the overarching: "Love bears all things" (I Corinthians 13:7).
God's answer wasn't what I was expecting, but it was what I needed.
Rules might actually be easier to follow, but rule keeping doesn't take a relationship, it just takes a list. And God wants a relationship. My heart needed attention. God wanted me to love others like He loved me.
KNOWING IS GOOD, LOVING IS BETTER
It's much easier to check points off for good behavior rather than face internal issues like worry, pride, and, grieving the Spirit. I can keep my distance with a pencil and a list. But distance isn't what I was made for.
Like the Psalmist, I long for intimacy: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Psalm 73:25 NIV).
In college, I prayed, "Lord, help me know you better." Now I pray, "Lord, help me love you better." Knowing is good, loving is better.
I enjoy a robust study on God's character. Even more, I love stories of God relating with biblical characters. When I understand God's heart for them, I know His heart for me is the same. God knows me, loves me, and keeps pursuing me.
I wasn't sure I was supposed to marry my husband. Three years of not being sure. One evening on a long walk, he took my face in his hands and said these golden words: "You never have to do anything else or be anything more than what you are right now for me to love you more." Mark loved me, as is. He pursued me. Just like Christ pursued and loved you and me. It was time to say "Yes" and I did.
Growing in my relationship with God is based on His pursuit of me. He wanted me so He created me. He pursued me so He died for me.
And no matter how slow my spiritual growth, He won't give up on me.
How do I measure my spiritual growth? By my response to His love. How do I grow more in love with Him? By responding to His Word. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love"(John 15:9,10).
It sounds simple: love as Christ loved, obey as He obeyed His Father. Simple, but not easy. Sometimes I take the long way around.
A LONG ROAD, A SHORT LIST
I still like lists. I made a short list of three things to keep me on track for growth.
- Forgive, always
- Love, no matter what
- Invite others, as I have been invited by God
I don't mind that I never get to cross them off. I don't expect to reach a plateau and think, "I am now all grown up."
It's a long, sometimes, wilderness road to the Promised Land. Spiritual maturity can't be rushed, much like a child learning to walk. Forcing baby steps doesn't hurry the process. God took the children of Israel the long way around. He had His reasons. He wanted to see how much they trusted Him.
"… remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not" (Deuteronomy 8:2).
When I'm in the wilderness, I want to pass the test, to trust Him no matter what. When I don't feel like I'm growing, I recall the poet's words:
"Lord, the flowers grow,
even in the dark.
It's dark now, Lord,
Am I growing?"
Trusting God in the dark is spiritual growth. Obeying God in the wilderness is a matter of the heart. I want to please Him. I need to stay on the road to stay in the relationship. Only by God's grace.
How about you?
Where do you want to grow up in Jesus? Are you in a wilderness long-way-around season right now? God knows and I'll pray if you let me know how I can pray. You are not alone.
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It's hot in SLO town - the perfect time of year to host a fun gathering. Here are 25 ideas to choose from. I've tried most!
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