Matthew 5: 48 (MSG)
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Have you ever had to grow up? I know I have. When I got a new job away from home I had to take on the responsibility of paying bills, buying food and gas, and the day to day upkeep of balancing my personal and work life. For me it was a time in my life which forced me to financially and professionally mature. Maturity is not only a necessity in our day to day lives, but it is also a vital part of our spiritual growth as well. For it takes much maturity to love our enemies, to pray for our haters and turn the cheek when we've already been hit. And these examples of spiritual maturity are given to us as a challenge in this week's focus scripture. They challenge us to be better people, better servants & better Christians.
Now, is growing up easy? Absolutely not, but it’s necessary. It’s necessary not just so that we can be the people God has called us to be, but it’s also necessary so that the world might see the light of Jesus in us all. In other words WE GROW UP so we can GLOW UP! So why should we love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us? Because as children of God it is in our DNA to live right, act right, and love right. So challenge yourself to find the areas in your Christian walk where you need to mature and ask God for the strength to GROW UP!
God, search our hearts to find those areas where we need to mature. Challenge us to love everyone, remind us to pray for our friends, as well as our enemies and give us the strength to turn our cheek even we’ve already been hit. Help us Lord to grow up. Amen.
