A Vision of Maturity

It's been a crazy week and I haven't posted a thing...shame on me. It's Saturday night and I'm winding down and getting ready for tomorrow morning. I'm really excited about our Gathering tomorrow.

I want to throw something up for discussion (if anyone actually reads this). I'm working on creating a picture of a "mature" follower of Christ. This is simply a tool to help people catch a glimpse of what they are shooting for in their walk with Christ. Just as a weightlifter might have an image in his or her mind of what they want their body to look like, so also I want to build an image of what a growing follower of Jesus might look like.

As I've been studying Acts 4-7, I've picked up at least 5 characteristics that I think a sold-out follower of Jesus should exude.

1. Radical Obedience.
In Acts 4 & 5 Peter and John are arrested and examined by the religious leaders of the day. In chapter 5 they are even flogged to teach them a lesson. Their response to all the threats by these religious leaders is classic: "You decide, should we obey God or you?" That is some radical obedience. Even in the face of physical pain and ridicule, they chose to follow God. I have to ask myself what the world is asking me to do to which I must respond: "You decide, should I obey God or you?"

2. Sincere Lover of People.
Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement") demonstrated throughout the book of Acts that he was truly an encourager - to Paul, to John Mark, and others. He sold his assets to help those less fortunate. He stepped up and vouched for Paul. He stood up for John Mark. Barnabas was truly a lover of people. As a Christ-follower, I need to step up and love - even when it isn't convenient.

3. Passionate about God and His Kingdom.
In Acts 5 Annanias and Sapphira lie to God and the Church. They drop dead on the spot. In a sense, they were trying to do what the religious institution of the day had been doing for years. They were trying to buy their influence while maintaining their own self-indulgence. They wanted the best of both worlds, but God said you needed to choose: God's Kingdom or the world. It can't be both. Do I exude that kind of passion for God or am I satisfied with status quo?

4. Broken
In Acts 6 we read about the appointing of the first deacons. There were several characteristics of these men listed, but it seems all of them can be traced back to a sense of their own brokeness before God. They were wise, faithful men who knew that all that they had came from God. That can only be said of a man (or woman) who has been broken. Most "deep" people have experienced a brokeness in their life.

5. Generous
Throughout Acts we see men and women selling off goods to give to the poor. We see churches taking up collections to help famine victims. Stephen made the ultimate sacrifice when he forgave those who were killing him. A mature follower of Jesus knows that he or she is not an "owner" but merely a steward of God's blessings. This mindset allows her to be generous.

These are the beginning point for casting a vision of what a fully-formed follower of Christ might look like. Though we never reach perfection, we can move in that direction. But if we don't even know what we are shooting for, we might be going in circles.

Let me know how these characteristics affect you and your vision of growing in Christ.

Under the Mercy,
Jason