Maturity

Maturity



TODAY'S VERSE "Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you." II Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

TODAY'S THOUGHT It was Paul's desire that the church in Corinth mature. The church was full of confusion, sin and strife but Paul did not give up. Instead, he sent them a letter and at the end of his writing he appealed one more time for them to mature. They needed to change their behavior if they were going to be effective in their Christian walk. Paul wanted them to be joyful and the way he suggested that they do that was to encourage each other. Joy comes from Godly encouraging relationships. Nothing is more important than each of us committing ourselves to encourage others. Nothing works like encouragement in helping us live in harmony and peace. And the result of our harmony and peace is the fellowship of God Himself, the one and true God of love and peace. Today chose maturity by being an encourager and live in harmony and peace with those around you.


QUOTE


Spiritual encouragement, therefore, is applying biblical principles to every situation with a view toward bringing each person into right relationship with God. At times spiritual encouragement may ‘feel’ harsh. It may not be what one ‘desires’ to hear. That may be true regardless of how gentle the words are which are used. As people fallen from grace we often don’t want to hear the truth. We often just want to hear what will make us feel better. In the end, however, only true spiritual encouragement can be used by God to touch the soul of one.



Richard Roberts


TODAY'S PRAYER Dear Lord, help me become more and more mature. Help me be an encourager, living in harmony and peace with everyone I come into contact with. Thank You Father, that when I do make this effort to obey You that You are right there with me filling me with Your love and peace. Help me love like You do. In Jesus' name. AMEN