Hi ~

I’ve talked before about undertaking studies on Bible words and subjects.

One that I undertook quite a few years back was “maturity.” Could it have been, perhaps, because I felt like I needed more of it? (*looks at the sky and whistles*)

As I studied, I saw how quite a few other words related to maturity, like perfect, complete, sanctified, holy, whole-hearted. The study got bigger and bigger, but I kept doggedly moving through it.

Maybe without as much Holy Spirit connection as would have been wise (ugh, there’s one of the maturity issues), but with as much brain power as I could muster.

I learned I lot. I was convicted. I was deepened.

Then I came to 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10.

How can we properly give thanks to God for all the joy that you give us in Him? Night and day we keep praying earnestly for you, longing to see your face and complete that which is lacking in your faith.

Maybe at first glance it doesn’t look like anything outstanding.

But in the earlier part of the chapter Paul had described discouragement in his persecution. (Yes, even Paul.) Then he told how Timothy had brought back such an outstanding report of how these believers were growing in faith and love that Paul was filled with joy and hope.

So then, he said that this joy motivated him to pray for them even more.

Paul didn’t say, “What a relief that they’re doing well. I can forget about them for a while. I’ll focus my prayer attention on those people over there who aren’t doing well.”

No, his thanks to God for what He had already done in their lives resulted in even more prayer for them.

“Augh!” I thought. “I don’t pray like that!” When I hear that people are doing well spiritually, I tended to think, “Oh, wonderful. Thank you, Lord. Now I’ll pray for these other people who aren’t doing so well.”

I realized that sometimes my prayers were motivated more by fear than by faith. I grew up hearing and giving prayer requests for people in trouble. Health trouble, financial trouble, spiritual trouble.

I don’t mean to say that these requests are wrong. They’re not. But I don’t remember hearing or saying, “Pray for so and so, because he’s really growing strong in the Lord.”

The mindset Paul shows here in writing to the Thessalonians, and as well in in other places like Colossians 1:3-4 (“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you ever since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints”), is one of the confidence of victory, rather than the fear of defeat.

It’s centered around the assurance that God is doing a great work.

“You’ve made great progress in the faith. Praise God! Now I am eagerly longing to personally see that you grow even stronger.”

Here’s one thing I learned about maturity through that study.

The maturity that can “complete” (verb “perfect,” to bring to maturity) the faith of another is the same maturity that rejoices in, revels in, the beautiful growth that is already evident, the faith and love already blossoming.

This kind of maturity will focus less on what I think God still needs to do and more on what God is already doing. Then, in great joy I will be motivated by it to look for even greater things ahead.

With you in praising Him for the great things we see and scanning the skies for those greater things ahead,

Rebecca

Untwisting Scriptures at heresthejoy.com

See my Untwisting Scriptures series

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