On my birthday I was gifted with a wonderful small book by E Stanley Jones, who was a mighty man of the Scriptures in the previous century. People say that many times powerful things come in small packages. This certainly is the case with this little book titled Growing Spiritually.
He gives purpose to the reason why he is writing this particular book in the introduction. His declaration not only speaks to his times, but really more so to our times (in my humble opinion). The following is the reason for publishing this masterpiece:
“The necessity for spiritual growth is not merely our personal problem – it is that, but it is more: it is our world problem. At the center of almost every acute problem – personal, social, economic, political and international – is a moral and spiritual immaturity … we are immature persons dealing with mature problems. Dr. Rebecca Beard says, “The consuming illness of our times is our immaturity – our refusal to grow up.” (The underline is my addition).
E Stanley Jones goes on to say, “Spiritual maturity is no longer a luxury for a few, it is a necessity for us all.” The author continues saying, “Today we see all life around us being tangled and snarled because of a lack of an intangible something, and that something is Christian maturity.”
“Christian maturity must be the major business and endeavor of our race,” E Stanley Jones declares.
Where do we begin? We begin with ourselves becoming spiritually minded.
We are made perfect in Christ so that we can then manifest Christ to the world. Our witness will be the perfection of Christ within. Yes, I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect in myself, but what I can do and should do is commit myself to grow to be a mature Christian that walks and talks with God believing who I am in Christ.
This is our opportunity to not get all ensnarled into the worldly junk but focus on who we are in Christ and stand together in unity of the one body working together.
Ephesians 2:10 (ISV) For we are God’s masterpiece, created in the Messiah Jesus to perform good actions that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.
1Cor. 6:20 (KJV) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Agape,
Bob