I am simply not mature enough to enter into true friendship unless I realize that I cannot judge the intention or motivation of another. I must be humble and sane enough to bow before the complexity and mystery of a human being.
~John Powell
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. … Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. … For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. … Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Ephesians 3
Oh beloved, it is true. There are some people who are quite mature. And, there are some people who are not. This does not change anyone’s value. But it does change how we interact with people.
Humility is the ability to take true account of ourselves. And, in knowing – first – that we are utterly incapable of doing anything useful in life, in our own strength, we come to find a Source of Strength that is far beyond our original understanding of what strength even is.
We, in Him Alone, become invincible.
We are empowered by Power Himself.
We learn to love through Love Himself.
We stand, rooted deeply, on the Bedrock of reality Himself.
And no, this is not pride. It is the exact opposite.
Can we see it?
This is where we find that we really are better than others. Oh, don’t misunderstand. It is not our own quality. It is the quality of The One Who has begun His work within us. But remember, the work is being done by Perfection Himself, and He imparts this perfection to us.
And… Some people have not yet learned this.
They, like we all have done, are still looking to climb the Everest of spiritual mountains by power of their own zeal, or theology, or good ideas. And to these people, we (those of us who have matured beyond this foolishness), look like we are the ones who lack understanding.
So, people who are actually less mature, will be hacking away towards their own spiritual goals, but also looking at us (who seem to be resting) as though we are deceived and weak and faulty in our approach. And, when they do, it is tempting for us to draw back into their ways of doing things, because the problem with maturity is that it must be maintained, and we can regress!
So again, are you sensing people who seem to be believers, actually working to cut down your spirituality? It happens. Sometimes it is because they have some truth to teach us. But often, it is because they are not yet fully grown in their walk. Let them be. G_d is doing His work in them, and they will grow.
Tonight is your night, beloved. Time to be fully grown in Him.
Maturity: among other things—not to hide one’s strength out of fear and, consequently, live below one’s best.
~Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961)
