Col. 1:28–Warnings for Purpose

Colossians 1:28–"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

Maturity does not come naturally, as some would prefer us to believe.  I speak of maturity in wisdom not physically, because the banana doesn't have to try to become ripe but the wise man does.

Maturity is, in many ways, a learned trait, a practiced perspective.  After all, there are plenty of immature elderly people just as there are quite a few mature young people.  The point, then, for the achievement of maturity is the recognition that it is a goal as much as it is an attitude.  I mean to say that if we strive for maturity with a mature attitude we will, no doubt, arrive at maturity.

Spiritually speaking, maturity in Christ is what we are aiming towards.  It is about obedience but it is also about focus, that we would focus on growing in Christ.  This growth occurs through practice and devotion, the staples of a diet meant to harvest maturity in Christ.  If this is our aim we should set ourselves on the task of studying His Word, praying in thankfulness, and loving God and our neighbors.  In this way and by the grace of God, we will become mature in Him. Which is, after all, our eternal goal.

Working for Maturity

When I was younger I always assumed that maturity would come with age but now that I am in the torrid throws of aging, fully realizing the incumbent aches and pains that come with the process, I am not so sure that age itself is what elicits maturity.  Instead, I have learned that maturity comes not with age primarily but with intentional and consistent effort over time.  Maturity tends to appear old because it takes this sort of patient move in that steady direction of growth.

For years I have been teaching private guitar lessons.  I have taught dozens of students, some young and some old.  Without fail I have found that there is a predominant principle that always comes into play: the principle of plateau.  The principle of plateaus states that there will come a point of stasis where no growth beyond a certain level can occur without the input of new information that challenges while building upon what has come next.

This principle is as equally in play in the heart of the Christian as it is in the progression of playing an instrument, and the corrective response is the same: intentional pursuit of that which incites growth through new challenge(s).  For guitar training that means scales, arpeggios, chords, techniques, and songs.  For Christianity this means Bible study, prayer, meditation, worship, mentoring, and fellowship.

If ever we find ourselves stagnant and stunted, then we have fallen prey to the principle of plateaus.  If this is the case, we should dive into Scripture with vigor, pray with intention, and serve with generous hearts.  This is the prescription for overcoming our spiritual plateaus and stupor.  Using this, as a technique for growth, the Christian never needs to feel static in their walk or limited in their growth, but will always move forward toward the heavenly Father in Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit!