Maturity

I Do

Dr. Mike 2026 , , , ,

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:3-6

A Christian marriage is life-long. Two people bound together in a covenant of love and faithfulness until death. A beautiful way of life for raising a family and learning God’s way of life in the process. The agreement is not for immature children. But two people who honor each other. Serve each other. And fight through their personal demons to become one. There are only a few Biblical reasons to end it.

On that wedding day, standing before family and friends, the couple state their vows. The minister most often will read passages from the Bible. These usually are from 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 5. They may also include words like “whether richer or poorer, through health or sickness.” The aim is to acknowledge they are bound together till death. No matter what the couple faces in the future together.

A sacred and special moment for both with ideals and hopes laid before them. In many ways, in hindsight, not a clue of what is in store before them.

Are not our relationship and commitment with Jesus the same? Has HE not already proposed to us (Luke 9:23)? If we accept HIS offer to follow HIM, do we really know the path where the relationship is going to take us?

Like marriage, it is a commitment. We stand before God, others, and self with our vows, and state “I do” to each. As new babes in Christ, we have hopes and dreams of the future. But then real-world catastrophe occurs. Things don’t go according to plans. Financial challenges. Health challenges. Relationship challenges. Your demons may not even be on the list. But they know you and attack you on a regular basis.

The “I Do” is only three letters. But the power of a commitment behind it is strong. It is what separates winners from losers. Those who pursue life from those who run away. The “I Do” built on enduring love and faithfulness is a weapon for victory. These are the character traits Jesus lives by and empowers us to live by.

A healthy marriage gives us a taste of how Jesus lives with Father and Spirit. This is the relationship HE wants with you and me. Two people becoming one. In marriage two people find ways to work out the obstacles before them. Their lifelong commitment is to make the marriage work. So does Jesus do with us.

The “I DO” is only the start of a journey for life. What comes next is the process of growing in the grace, wisdom, and knowledge of our Lord unto eternity. It involves maturing as a people. It is learning to trust God with all our being. It is learning to partner with the invisible God who loves us more than we realize. He wants what is best for us for the long term. Not immediate gratification. But a future full of favor and success before HIM and those around you.


It all begins with “I Do.” Then it requires the commitment to hang in there and trust Jesus in the process.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Potty Trained

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

Recently came back from visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. The family is currently training our granddaughter how to use the toilet. She is two-and-half years old and plans to start attending nursery school in the fall. But, she needs to be potty trained before acceptance.

This weekend, she was at the stage of being aware of the need. Yet lacked the willpower to stop what she was doing to take care of business. So, the adults in the room would always check-in with her whenever she began to twitch. At first she would ignore the reminder and continue her play. Other times, she would agree and rush to the bathroom.

It is a process we all had to learn. Some of us quickly pick it up. Others take longer. The same can be said about our walk with Jesus.

Initially, we hear the good news. We begin to investigate. We read material from third-party sources. Then we begin to read the Bible ourselves. Like other material we read and master, we begin to practice its teachings. But somewhere we hit the spiritual wall. Our lives are still a mesh. We become frustrated with our growth. We become tired of pushing ourselves away from the temptations. We become confused through all the various influencers on social media. In some ways, it’s like being potty trained. We know the importance of the toilet, but are too busy with what we are doing to stop. We don’t grasp the importance of the moment. We again miss the mark. Sin spoils our life again.

Discipleship involves training the willpower to do good at all times. To recognize evil and have the wisdom and maturity to overcome it. In many ways, it is like being potty trained. When the moment arises, one can do nothing and experience the messy consequence. Or one can find the toilet and manage the discharge quick and efficiently. The same is true in our Christian journey.

We begin with attaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. But failure to execute what we know doesn’t complete the task. We are instructed to renew our minds. To transform our thinking under the governance of God’s Kingdom. But it also requires help from the adults in the room. Church elders who are working along with the Holy Spirit to nudge you toward maturity. To assist you to become the person God has wired you to be in Christ.

Yes, one may say the maturity process begins when one is potty trained.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Responsibility Matures You

Dr. Mike 2025 , , , ,

 

 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned…For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  Hebrews 6:4-12

Your salvation is a gift from God through the work of Jesus Christ. But what you do with that gift determines your destiny.

The gospel written by John emphasized a deep abiding relationship with Jesus is the doorway to life. As we walk with HIM, imitate HIM, learn from HIM, we become one with HIM. We begin to see the world through HIS eyes. As we grow and mature in the faith, HE bestows more and more of HIS riches upon us. The more blessings HE pours upon us, the more we can bless others with the same. HE is the source of life and purpose in everything we do worth our time and effort.

While as children, we depend on our parents for food, clothing, and shelter. We watch and learn from them how to cope with life. As we grow and seek out our independence, we slowly mature. Responsibility is given to us. As we fulfill our obligations, we gain confidence in our abilities to perform. We then take on more roles which impact the lives of others. Others begin to trust us. We learn to accept the responsibility of being held accountable for results.

Give a person no responsibility, and they will behave like a baby for their entire life. Give a person more responsibility holding them accountable, and they will grow in character. They will also be seen favorably in the eyes of others. People whose walk agrees with their talk are highly in demand. They are mature in their actions. Their service for others is noticed and praised. They don’t need to be told what to do. They are aware of the needs and concerns of those around them. They accept their strengths and shortcomings. Their confidence and assurance lead them to take action whenever necessary.

When a child of God takes up their cross, they are accepting the responsibility of trusting Jesus. As they learn to trust HIM in small ways, their faith grows. As they practice self-denial to follow HIM, they learn HIS Spirit is alive and active in their heart and mind. As trials and tests are thrust upon them, they lean on HIM to walk through the mess. They grow. They mature. They become more like HIM.

Some of us are wired to carry more responsibility than others. Some of us need less responsibility to grow. But we all need to be responsible for the gift given to us. Life is precious. Much prayer is required to keep tuned with the ONE who is maturing us unto eternity. Accept the responsibility of your calling and witness how HE shapes your life. Your destiny awaits you.   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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