Mature… Like a Tree

What does it look like to be a mature Christian? What are the signs that some is mature in Jesus?

The Christian life is about being in Christ – trusting Him – and then maturing in Him. We need to be clear here: being more Christlike isn’t moving on from Christ. We don’t start off trusting Christ and then switch to trusting ourselves to be more like Him. We trust Christ all the way through, because that’s what it means to have life and grow more mature.

So, what makes for a mature Christian?

• Trusting God is being like Christ – Hebrews 12:1-2. Trusting Jesus is the core of Christian growth, from beginning to end. Everything else grows from this.
• Response to the Holy Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 8, 5:19 (notice in verse 1 that it says “walk” or “live”? We live by seeing Christ, who the Holy Spirit points us to).
• Rejoicing – 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
• Praying – 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
• Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
• Sound in truth – Ephesians 4:14.
• Committed in love – Ephesians 4:16; just like Jesus – Ephesians 5:2.

These things (and others) make for a mature Christian. But what are the signs that someone is mature?

Think of an apple tree. How do you know when it is a mature tree? When it first pokes out of the ground, you may not be sure it is even a tree! When it is a sapling, you may not be able to tell what kind of a tree it is. But when it starts reproducing apple trees – when it bears fruit – you know what it is, and you know that it is healthy and mature. It’s roots grow deep.

When Jesus called His disciples, He simply said “Follow me, and I will you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). The disciples did follow Him. They grew in relationship with Him; in maturity; they came to know and trust Jesus more. It took a while. It was messy. I’m not quite sure when each of the disciples actually become all in with Jesus – but after Jesus appears to them, when He restores them and strengthens them (John 20-21, for example), and sends them the Spirit, there can be no mistake about who they are. Then they actually become fishers of men! They are mature, and you can see it because little Christians begin popping up everywhere (Acts 1-4)! It’s clear that their lives are deeply rooted in Jesus.

We want to be careful – success in evangelism doesn’t make anyone a Christian. Some people God uses to bring others to Himself when they aren’t really His. Some of us keep telling people about Jesus, but haven’t seen many people come to trust Jesus, and maybe don’t know what part we’ve played in their journey to being born again in Christ. Others of us may be over-zealous, and without deep roots, go out to do evangelism and get knocked down, like stocks of corn in a windstorm. Others of us are tempted to use that as an excuse not to talk about Jesus.

I’m not writing this to make anyone feel self-righteous, uncertain or guilty, over-confident, or overwhelmed. I only have one point: maturity in Christ means growing deep roots in relationship with Him, and God will use that to create other little born again people all around you. Don’t aim for the fruit – aim for Him! That’s how you’ll have real, lasting, genuine fruit – deep roots in trusting, loving, and knowing Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit do His work, causing you to love God and others. Be a member of a church who want to see one another built up in love. Then He’ll quicken your feet to talk to others about Jesus.

For more on these ideas, watch What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: Stages in Youth Ministry – Rob Trenckmann