Qualities of a maturing Christian

I am extremely encouraged from our gospel meeting this past week with brother Don Bunting. One of my goals is to go back and listen to the lessons again. I took notes throughout the week and will review them as well.

This article idea came from the meeting and one particular text we studied in Luke 17.

Don spoke about how to increase our faith on Tuesday evening. In Luke 17:1-10, there are a number of qualities Jesus speaks about that are be evident in Christians. These are qualities that are good indicators for us to see how we are maturing in our walk with Christ. While they are not the only ones, it will serve us well to consider them.

Luke 17:1-2: He said to His disciples. “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.” Jesus warns us that as disciples how we conduct ourselves and influence one another matters. We must be careful not to have a negative influence on one another that could cause one of us to sin. This requires that we think about one another even more.

Luke 17:3-6: “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins again you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” We must stay on our guard on not causing one another to stumble. As Christians we are a part of a community and that means that there is to be mutual accountability. This includes rebuking and forgiveness.  Just as one is quick to rebuke, they must also be quick to forgive! Forgiveness should always be available.

Luke 17:7-10: In this text, brother Don really helped me! To increase our faith requires that we increase in humility! “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:4. I thought about the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, which is often referred to as the Hall of Faith. A careful study of these men and women, and we will see that they were people who displayed humility in their lives. Jesus is our Master, and we are His slaves. We are therefore to listen to Him; in everything we do. I like what one person said, “We don’t need more faith, rather we need genuine faith.” We are to trust what He says about avoiding being a stumbling block, rebuking one another, repentance, and forgiveness. To get to this level in our walk with God, we have to continue to trust in His way even more. Finally, because Jesus is our Master, we are to be His servants. As we serve the Lord we should serve with Joy, Zeal, and Humility! This is a mark of a Christian who is maturing in their faith. Our duty is to do what Jesus has asked us to do.

This passage is a power packed text that will help us to see where we are in our walk with Jesus and where He wants us to be. Live righteously, guard against sin, be forgiving, have faith, and serve the right way!