How do you know when you are spiritually mature? I’ll suggest that on this side of Heaven, spiritual maturity is measured in progress toward the prize, as none of us will be completely matured here. When we measure ourselves against the perfect example of God, we will ALWAYS come up short. So, how do you know what areas you need to work on and what areas you’ve made progress in?
It is a matter of asking yourself two questions: Am I less? Am I more?
Less what? Glad you asked!
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:19-21 (NLT)
We must ask ourselves questions like:
- Am I less jealous than I used to be?
- Am I less angry than I used to be?
- Am I less attached to the things of this world than I used to be?
More what? Again, glad you asked!
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! – Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
We must ask ourselves questions like:
- Am I more loving than I used to be?
- Am I more patient than I used to be?
- Am I more self-controlled than I used to be?
Ask yourself these two kinds of questions. Better yet, ask others who know you these kinds of questions. Ask your spouse, friends, children and parents. Seriously.
How about you? Are you making progress toward being a transformed person? How do you know? If not, why not?
