May 24th | Growing to Maturity

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

GROWING TO MATURITY

Ephesians 4:14-15 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”  

In watching your child grow through the stages of life from infant, toddler, child, adolescent into adulthood are you not filled with awe at their journey? From the infant who was totally dependent upon you for everything to the teen who thought they were more mature than they were until finally at some point they actually were mature took a long time of wondering on your part just how they would “turn out.”  

Your Christian life has developed parallel to your intellectual, emotional, and physical one. Over many years you learned your first prayer, first Bible verse, first Sunday School song, were in your first children’s Christmas program, etc. As you grew and matured as a person you also matured in your Christian walk-through worship, study of the Bible, confirmation instruction, youth group Bible class, etc. The Holy Spirit was by your side guiding you through God’s word, your Baptism, and after confirmation receiving the Lord’s Supper to a mature faith and trust in your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   

As an adult you know your body must be nourished on a daily basis with a proper diet of water and food to remain healthy and strong. As an adult Christian you know your soul must be nourished on a daily basis through the Means of Grace, God’s word, and the Sacraments. Satan will tempt and test you to believe you know all you need to know from God’s word; that you have heard all you need to hear through your Sunday worship; that daily personal devotions are no longer needed. However, like your body needs food and water to remain healthy and strong so your soul needs God’s word and the sacraments to remain anchored in Christ. 

As you read in yesterday’s devotional verses, God has given you spiritual mentors to lead and guide you through the Means of Grace to Jesus who is your spiritual foundation. Upon Jesus Christ, the rock you stand, all other ground is sinking sand. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, keep me strong in my faith and trust in Jesus who is the author of my salvation, the foundation of my faith, the way, the truth, and the life. In His Holy name. Amen.  

The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;  
She is His new creation By water and the Word.  
From heavn’ He came and sought her To be His holy bride;  
With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died. 

Elect from ev’ry nation, Yet one o’er all the earth;  
Her charter of salvation; One Lord, one faith, one birth.  
One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food,  
And to one hope she presses With ev’ry grace endued. 

Though with a scornful wonder The world sees her oppressed,  
By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed.  
Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “how long?”  
And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song. 

Through toil and tribulation And tumult of her war  
She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore  
Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest,  
And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest. 

Yet she on earth has union With God, the Three in One,  
And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won.  
O blessed heav’nly chorus! Lord, save us by Your grace  
That we, like saints before us, May see You face to face.  (LSB 644)