Maturity of the Believer

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight” (Romans 12:14-6).  
 
Have you ever noticed that with certain things, the longer it takes, the better it is? Think about the difference between heating a dinner in the microwave and slow roasting a dinner in the crockpot. Or for all the coffee connoisseurs, think about the difference in making coffee in the coffee pot versus brewing coffee the natural way without any mechanics involved.  
Slow roasting and slow brewing—it takes longer but the result is more satisfying.  
Good things take time.  

It takes time for your ideals and tendencies to change. God is the potter, and we are the clay, and making vessels requires intentionality and patience. He knows this. We’ve discussed why it’s necessary for Christians to pursue an everyday relationship with the Father, and the reasoning for this is so that we will be mature believers. The maturity of the believer is a slow burn. It’s the result of your mindset changing, your sinful patterns being broken, and His values becoming your values.  

The purpose of us becoming more mature in Christ Jesus is so that we will be ready when tribulation comes. When persecutions rise, we must be firm in our faith and grounded in the Lord. Paul reminds us towards the end of Romans 12 that we will encounter persecution, and our maturity in Christ is how we become fortified, resilient Christians. Our personal time with the Lord is our training ground—it’s our time to get to know Him. It’s our space to learn how to nurture our communities and prepare our hearts for every season.  

When we get bruised, we bless. When we get beaten down, we bless. This kind of resilience only comes from a heart that has been in consistent communion with God. The reason why Paul waits until the end of the passage to tackle the subjects of persecution and living in harmony and choosing humility is because he knows that these are the most difficult to achieve. Endurance is the product of a mature believer, and maturity comes from an intimate relationship with Him.