Growing Up The View of the Mature

Growing Up

The View of the Mature

“The key to communication on any level is to

view life through someone else’s eyes” Tim LaHaye

The key to communication with God on any

level is to view life through the eyes of Christ.

In order for us to grab hold of the level of maturity

 Christ has for us, we will need to close our eyes

several times a day in order to see what He sees.  

Tim LaHaye in his book “The Act of Marriage” says…

“The key to communication on any level

is to view life through someone else’s eyes.”

I cannot tell you how that advice has

helped me over the last 30 plus years.

No matter how strong you feel about a matter,

listening to someone else to understand why they have

come up with the conclusion they are living with is key.

It is not saying you have to agree,

it says you have to understand.

This understanding helps in many ways.

It helps us to see something we are missing.

It helps us to see what others are missing and why.

When we take the time to understand others

and respect their view we gain their confidence

and trust; two major keys to conflict resolution.

The mature are able to consider

others better than themselves.

They are at peace submitting their

views in order to respect others.

The mature will find wisdom and the

direction of the Holy Spirit when they take

the time to find out where others are at.

A good parent will not expect their

one year old to run the Boston Marathon.

But understanding where the child’s development stages are

and how to help them with the “Next Step” (as small as they

maybe) will help develop those running skills for the future.

In the Book of Philippians, Paul

talks about his level of maturity.

He speaks from a humble position.

 He says… “I have not yet obtained”.

He says there were things he had to let go of

to come to the level of maturity he obtained.

He also said there were things he had to stretch for,

things that would take work and time to reach.

In all Paul says about this pressing for maturity he says…

         

“I press on to take hold of that for

which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Paul was focused on the reason Christ took hold of him.

What an interesting thought to stop and think about.

Why did Christ take hold of you?

Why would He care?

 Why would He take the time?

What is in it for God?

Maybe we should stop and lay down all

the reasons we follow Jesus that benefit

us and view our lives through Jesus’ eyes.

What if we stopped and went deeper into

understanding God’s purpose for taking a hold of us.

Deeper than “God so loved the world”.

Love is a choice and that is a good

thing because while we were still sinners

there was nothing about us to love.

So close your eyes and concentrate

on connecting with Christ in prayer.

With your eyes closed ask Him to

allow you to see through His eyes.

The key to communication with God on any

level is to view life through the eyes of Christ.

In order for us to grab hold of the level of

maturity Christ has for us, we will need to close our

eyes several times a day in order to see what He sees.  

Scripture Reading

Philippians 3:7-16 NIV

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.