Exhibiting a Passion for Spiritual Maturity

“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death”
Philippians 3:10

We have for the last several devotionals considered the essential elements to spiritual maturity. This week, we want to consider the importance of a passion for such growth. A star athlete achieves their level of success based upon the passion that he or she has for their particular sport. That passion causes them to sacrifice their indulgences, schedule their time, and stretch their bodies to the limit that they might be the best they can be in their sport.

If we as Christians want to succeed in the Christian life and “go on unto perfection”, then we must be willing to exhibit that same passion for the things of God. Paul in Philippians 3 shares with us that passion for spiritual maturity. Paul in verses 7 and 8 tells us that he willingly sacrificed his worldly success that he might gain Christ. In verse 10, he tells us that his passion caused him to seek after the Lord with all his heart. His passion was to know the Lord Jesus Christ, to grow in his personal relationship with his Savior. He was willing for anything that might cause him to know Him more. He was even willing to suffer, if that suffering would draw him closer to the Lord (verse 10; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He desired to be conformed to the death of Christ, which refers to his willingness to be humbled. Paul understood that humility would lead him to a closer relationship with Christ for God “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Do you have a passion for spiritual growth? Do you long to draw closer to the Lord and “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord” (2 Peter 3:18)?

Pastor Jeffrey Bateman
First Baptist Church