Cultivating Maturity: It’s Easily Recognizable

It's time for a gut check. We have to confront the influences our feelings and emotions have on our behavior. This is especially important when it comes to situations where there is the potential for offense.

Like you, I aspire to rise above my feelings and emotions. I reject the prevailing mindset of easily taking offense that permeates our society today, as it only serves to divide us. My deepest yearning is to cultivate genuine relationships founded on deep personal connections. Lately, the importance of being mature has been on my mind.

During a recent conversation with a friend, we spoke about some of the drama that his family was going through, and a scripture that I have been thinking about resurfaced, once again piercing me to the core.

Romans 15:1-2 (TPT):

Now, those who are mature in their faith can easily be recognized, for they don't live to please themselves but have learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity. Our goal must be to empower others to do what is right and good for them and to bring them to spiritual maturity.

Inspired by Romans 15, I would like to share three questions that can help you discern whether you are walking in maturity:

• Are there areas of your life where you are still living for yourself?

• Have you learned to patiently embrace others in their immaturity?

• Do you act as a guide, empowering others to make choices that are beneficial for them?

Romans 15 serves as a valuable measuring stick for evaluating your own maturity and aligning your life with the person you want to become. I firmly believe that this principle holds true in nearly any situation. And it's an ongoing journey; being mature is a continuous commitment we must embrace. We are never exempt from being an adult. It's a sobering realization, but a necessary step to becoming the people we aspire to be.

The insight from this scripture is truly beautiful, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to contemplate and meditate on it. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this verse, so please feel free to share your comments or email me!