Category: Spiritual Maturity - Jethro TOOLS

Counter to the Culture

1/4/2026

Ephesians 1:17-23
Fitting in, as people we are created for relationships and desire acceptance. Yet at times we are willing to compromise our values and beliefs to gain the fleeting praise and acceptance of others. This is simply called peer pressure. We often think of this term in relation to teenagers who are pressured by their peers into making unwise decisions. However, we can be pressured to conform even when we are older. It is often said that, “Everything is for sale and everyone has a price.” The book of Daniel records perhaps the best recognized examples of a response to peer pressure. The first chapter records Daniel and his three friends in a foreign land in training to serve the king. Daniel resolved in his mind not to defile himself with the food that was unclean and unacceptable by God’s standards (Daniel 1:8). Later in the book the three friends of Daniel are threatened with death if they did not worship the gold statue of the king. In the face of immense pressure they reaffirm their belief in God to deliver, and their resolute refusal not bow to the statue (Daniel 3:16-18). Where does that kind of confidence come from? In Ephesians chapter one Paul prays that the Ephesian church will know God better (17). He prays that they will know the hope, riches and power found only in knowing God (18-23). Our hope is based on Christ and not on what we dream to achieve. Our wealth is found in a merciful God who lavished on us the gift of His Son who died for us to make it possible for us to become part of His family. The same unmatched power that God used to raise Jesus from the grave is now resident in the one who places their faith in Christ to save them. Through God’s power we can withstand temptations and live counter to the pressures found in our culture.

For More See EPHESIANS

Spiritual Maturity

10/26/2025

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
All grown up. That is a phrase used by grandparents to describe grandchildren who have surpassed them in height, but are they mature? Two years ago I planted several cranberry bushes in the yard. With much water and some fertilizer they are now taller than I am. Are they all grown up? Are they mature cranberry plants? Not yet, they still have to produce cranberries. Even though the plants have flourished and look healthy they have not produced the fruit that marks them as mature. The same is true regarding spiritual maturity. Our spiritual age and general spiritual health make it clear that we are getting enough to eat spiritually. However, if we are only measured by what we take in we still have some growing up to do. In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul commends a group of believers for their spiritual growth and the maturity of their faith, love and hope (3). The work of faith in their lives, by God, looks to the past and guides their present living (4-5). Their labor of love matures them through their personal practice and witness of their faith under pressure (6-9). Their hope remains steadfast and matures through the confident expectation of God’s future regardless of the present reality (10). These believers had a faith in God that changed them. They possessed a love that caused them to serve as active witnesses while possessing a hope in Christ that was exercised under pressure. That is a growing and maturing spiritual life. They did not allow their circumstances to limit their growth. Instead they allowed their hope and faith to direct their life to be lived as a loving witness for Jesus in all circumstances. The problem is that often we allow our circumstances to limit our spiritual growth. We look at the size of the problem rather than the greatness of our God. Ask God to mature your faith, love and hope through your circumstances.

For More See 1 THESSALONIANS

Membership Standard

8/17/2025

1 Corinthians 13
“I don’t like my job!” Have you ever said that. There is part of every job that is unpleasant. Most jobs are tolerable, some are terrible, while many jobs are terrific. Yet within every job there is often one component that is unpleasant and therefore we often avoid doing it. Simply avoiding the task does not remove our responsibility to complete it and therefore complete our job. The same is true when it comes to living the christian life. The church of Corinth was having a problem exercising genuine faith, love and service to God. As a whole they had distorted their relationship with Christ and turned it into a practice of self centered love. In essence they had turned their relationship with Jesus Christ into a self centered religious practice. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul challenges their distorted spiritual practice by addressing love as the central standard measurement for believers in Jesus Christ. This passage highlights what is wrong in the Corinthians spiritual practice (1-3), and what is actually the display of true love (4-7). The distinguishing characteristic of love within the believer is progress in Christlike maturity (8-12). We are immature and can never measure up to Christ’s standard of love, but there is progress over the course of our spiritual life. We are called to be followers of Christ and follow His example (1 Peter 1:13-16). Love is to be the substance of our actions because Christ loved us first (1 John 1:19). This passage is simple, yet so deep and confronting. If we are honest it is difficult to love and be loving. Yet, our belief in Christ the Savior who loves us changes us and connects us with His body the church so we can become people who serve with His love. Christ and His display of love for us is the standard measurement for our love and service. That is a hard job, but one that is attainable through His grace and strength.

For More See 1 CORINTHIANS

Restored

3/16/2025

Romans 6
The old shed on the back corner of our property seemed like a worthy investment. So in the spring, after thinking and planning repairs all winter, I started. The building had settled and rotted its original support beams, requiring the foundation to be rebuilt. Once the shed was level and stable the roof and the door were replaced to keep the structure dry and free from roaming critters. Since the outside was able to withstand the extremes of weather, I turned my attention to the inside to make the shed functional. A simple shelf and some hooks made a once rundown and deteriorated building useful again. In many ways we are like an old shed. God sees us, and purchases us, to restore us to the functional purpose that He designed us to be. In Romans chapter 6, Paul calls this process sanctification. From the point of salvation, God begins a process of removing the practice of sin from the life of the believer. The control of sin is broken (1-14) through what Christ has accomplished on the cross for us. But God does not just leave us there. He wants to restore us to the true servants that He originally intended us to be. There is a change that takes place as the believer no longer serves sin, but gives the control of their life to God (15-23). Gradually, the practice of sin is replaced with purity and a righteous life that pleases God. Sanctification is God’s life long process that He works in us to restore us to His standard. Speaking of our relationship with Jesus, Peter writes, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You Shall Be Holy, For I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:15). What we believe will change the way that we live. What we live will prove what we truly believe.

For More See ROMANS or SHEBA

The Disciple's Commitment

1/5/2025

Luke 9:23-26
This summer I watched the population of rabbits grow in our neighborhood. At first we only saw a few adult rabbits and then, little by little, there were a bunch of little bunnies that began to emerge from their nesting area. It was comical watching as the little ones come out of their nest and scurry about on their tiny legs. What we saw in our neighborhood is a natural process from conception to birth, to immaturity and finally maturity. This is the life process that you and I go through. We are born to grow and be productive members in our family and society. We grow as people through learning, nurturing and guidance of those who are older. The same is true on a on a spiritual level. The Bible describes this process as being a disciple which simply means learner. However, this is more than just learning head knowledge, this involves knowledge and practice of what is learned. In Luke 9:23 Jesus lays down the challenge to be committed to following Him by stating, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Today the symbol of the cross has been popularized in the form of a necklace of an artistic graphic design on a shirt. In reality the cross is a sign of commitment even to the point of death. Jesus and His audience understood that clearly. That kind of total commitment is the sign of a mature believer in Jesus who lives, as Jesus says, without regard for one self, but is instead dedicated to the advancement of His kingdom. As in the natural life process the mature are used to nurture and grow the young. Are you willing to grow in your knowledge of Christ and be used by God to grow His family just like the rabbits in my back yard?

For More See LUKE or DISCIPLESHIP

Tools for a Purpose

4/21/2024

Ephesians 4:7-16
We all like a nice gift, don’t we? We like to receive gifts that suit our desires and benefit us personally. On the other hand, we may refuse a gift that is unattractive or that we find unsuitable and therefore unusable. But what about the thoughtful gift? What about the gift that is beneficial for today and many years to come? At one time, my father gave me a gift like that. In fact, I still have it today. The gift was a small tool set that included a hammer, a square, a tape measure, wrenches and a pair of blue pliers. Over the years I used those tools for various projects. In the process of using those simple tools I learned how to use them. For example I learned that its best to pound a nail with a hammer, but a pliers may be a useful tool to remove a bent nail. My father gave me these tools to learn how to use them, with the goal in mind to use them to help him. The same is true with the church. God our Father has given various tools to the church to be used to build the church. In Ephesians 4 we see that God gives gifts as He determines for the ultimate benefit of the body (7-11). The problem for us today is that we want a gift that we think will benefit us. However, God’s purpose of giving each one in the body a gift is that they function in a way that will bring maturity, stability, growth and connection to each other (12-16). The only way that these gifts bring these results is when they are used in serving others. As each gift is used in serving we are to keep in mind that Christ served us. He sacrificially served us for our benefit and we are to serve sacrificially for the benefit of others. Our Heavenly Father has given us a set of tools, let’s put them to use!

Fore more see EPHESIANS

Reproducing Growth

1/10/2024

2 Timothy 2:1-2
Have you ever replanted trees? A number of years ago I dug up several trees from the woods and planted them along the road in front of the house for shade and privacy. Even though the trees were no taller than myself, the dirt on the roots made them almost too heavy to lift. With a bit of fertilizer and a lot of water the trees took root in their new location and started to thrive. There was noticeable growth each year, and now it is hard to imagine that I moved those trees. They are twenty to thirty feet tall and they look fantastic. Everywhere we look in life there is change because of growth. When there is no growth that shows that there is a problem. If you examine a tree that does not grow you will discover an infestation of disease, rot or predators. The same is true in our spiritual lives. If we are not growing we are plateaued or worse stagnate and in decline. Paul challenges Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 to take what he has learned and pass it on to others. Basically, he is saying, duplicate yourself in the lives of others and help others grow. This is the result of a personal and powerful relationship that Paul had with Timothy as a mentor. Timothy gleaned much from Paul. Now as a result of the changes and growth in his own life he was responsible to intentionally go and reproduce what he has learned and seen in the lives of others who would be able to do the same. This is not something that Timothy does in his own strength. It is a natural process of being connected to Jesus, growing spiritually and producing fruit (John 15:5). We can have a very bad habit of believing that our faith is only our own. However, just like a tree we are planted to grow and reproduce. If we do not grow into maturity and reproduce we have become stagnant and stunted or dead spiritually. Christ’s purpose in saving us is to grow us, mature us, and use us to grow others.

For more see 2 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

Reproduction of Disciples

1/1/2023

2 Timothy 2:1-2
Spring is just around the corner… well not really. However, now is the time to begin making plans for the garden. We may think of new or better locations to place certain plants based on how much shade or sunlight they need. We may gather the tools and plan a new garden design. But, all of this is useless unless we have seeds to plant in the warm spring soil. Seeds will naturally want to grow with the proper sunlight, soil, and water. Under these conditions the plant will sprout into a seedling, continue to grow as an immature plant, and finally develop as a mature plant that produces a crop. At maturity the plant is able to produce seeds that can be used to reproduce a crop for the following year. There is a life cycle in nature and people that starts with birth and leads to maturity. God has designed all that He has created to grow into maturity. However, do we think the same way about our spiritual life? Often when we think about our spiritual life we only think about the start. We think of the good news of Jesus coming at Christmas to bring us salvation. When we believe in Christ as Savior we gain His gift of salvation. That is only the beginning. That new life and the transformation is to be on going and maturing just as we see in nature. Our spiritual life does not stop at salvation, it is to continue, grow, develop, and mature in us. God has intentionally created all that is around us, including us, for growth and maturity. Stagnation and remaining in one spiritual life stage is not normal. It is unhealthy. God’s purpose in sending Jesus to be our Savior is to save us and mature us so we can spiritually reproduce and be used by God to plant new spiritual seed in the soil of others lives.

For more see 2 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

Priority of Prayer

10/16/2022

James 5:13-20
Have you ever had someone stop and pray for you? It is amazing how that moment in time can change your perspective regarding the difficult life situation at hand. This week I had someone stop and pray for me, and it encouraged me to pause and trust God yet again for the difficulties I was facing. On the other hand, over the course of this week, I have had the chance to pray with and for others involved in various situations. I realized that I was incapable of bringing a solution to the situation, but by faith I trusted God to work His solution. In these verses, James wants his audience to pray to God about their personal situations (13). However, we as people often do everything else and talk to everyone else but God. James challenges his audience to call others to pray over them when they have been spiritually weakened and have lost faith in God (14-16). He wants his audience to see that faith in God in impossible situations is possible. James illustrates this by giving the example of Elijah as one who prayed and saw God respond (17-18). As James closes the book, he provides an encouragement and challenge to rescue and restore those who have wandered from their faith in Christ (19-20). Today we can still display the reality of our faith by praying in the good and bad times. We can encourage the faith of others who have become weak by praying for them and we can share the burden of restoring the faith of others. Our faith is strengthened when we pray because we practice our belief in God by calling out to Him regarding the situation. May God help us see the value and necessity of a mature faith that prays. Who are you praying for and who is praying for you?

For more see JAMES

Priority of Patience

10/9/2022

James 5:7-12
Fall time is here and the garden is just about done producing. Over the course of the summer seeds have been planted and we watched them sprout. With the proper sunlight, fertilizer and water the plants have grown and produced a harvest that we could only dream about just a few months ago. Gardners and farmers: work the ground in preparation for harvest, weed the ground for a pure harvest, and patiently wait for the harvest. All crops take a certain amount of time, water, and sunlight to grow. We just need the patience to wait for them to grow. In this passage James first provides a simple spiritual challenge or exhortation. This challenge is then followed by two examples of how others displayed a patient faith. James then adds two specific ways to practice or exercise patience and thus display their faith in God. The general challenge or encouragement is to live a life of patience (7). This is followed by the example of patience in waiting as seen in the farmer (7-8), and the prophets plus Job and their patience in pain (10-11). James also provides the practical ways to exercise the practice of patience by not grumbling (9) and being reliable in the promises that are made (12). We may struggle at times with a lack of patience, but have we thought about how it reflects our faith in Christ? When we live patiently under trials we will patiently long for the day of Christ’s return. When we speak with patience it reflects our faith in God even in times of frustration. When we live a life of patient faith we are an active witness of God’s transforming power that enables us to endure. This week, may we be patient people who display the greatness of our God.

For more see JAMES

Control of Speech

9/4/2022

James 3:1-12
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? One of the great social problems of our technological age is that anyone can make a comment online and be completely anonymous. It is all so convenient to hide behind a computer or smart phone screen and spill vile hate filled words toward some other person or even a local business. It is statistically proven that we are a very lonely people who long for connection, but we are failing at the basic element of relationships… communication. We all want good relations with the people around us. None of us really likes having an enemy. Yet in our twisted human minds we sometimes think that if we speak evil of someone that somehow it will make us even with them and change the situation. However, speaking evil pushes us farther apart while speaking good will draw us together. With evil words there is a wall of hurt and insult between people. With the good there is a bridge of trust and truth that is built. In chapter three, we see James begin to address the issue of speech as it relates to our faith. He notes that our speech may be such a small part of our overall being, yet it is very powerful in directing the course of our lives or others (1-4). James becomes even more pointed with his words as he addresses the common problems of our speech that are present even today (5-12). He sees that our speech is easily filled with the pride of self promotion. It can become the source of destruction, and easily be corrupted with impurities that do not honor God. The problem is that we are numb and perhaps unaware because our faith has been separated from what we say. So, who are you talking to and what are you saying? Is your speech clearly reflecting your faith in Christ?

For more see JAMES

The Problem of Temptation

7/17/2022

James 1:13-18
Earthquakes can be very dangerous because you never expect them. The ground heaves and shakes all because of the seismic shifts happening deep below the earth’s surface. The various tectonic plates that our world sits on shift and ever so slightly the surface that we live on also moves. However violent the initial earthquake, the aftershocks, or following quakes, may be just as deadly. Weakened or damaged buildings can collapse under the continued movement and stress. Just as in an earthquake weakens buildings so the temptation of sin has a way of weakening our resistance and it ultimately leads to death (15). But God desires to work His positive purpose over temptation in our life. James provides a warning that sin deceives us into seeing it as good (16), but God is the only one who gives what is good (17). God does not change and works His will to bring life to a life that was spiritually lifeless (18). His desire is to transform us so we begin to show the resulting fruit of His work in us with the promise of more to come. The problem for us today, like the scattered audience of James, is that we have a tendency to blame God for the temptation we face. That is a big spiritual earthquake that will lead to other continued problems. God is not the source of temptation and sin (13). In blaming God we inaccurately believe that God is faulty and we are shaken again in our weakened position by the evil of temptation (14). What is influencing your life and decisions right now? Is it God and His power to bring His good result out of your life or the lure of temptation to sin? James is reminding us that temptation should never shake us off the stability that our faith has in God who gives what is good.

For more see JAMES

The Life of the Believer

10/31/2021

Galatians 5:22-23
Lately I have been trying to paint two unfinished exterior walls of my house. If painting was all that I had to do, the job would be done in a day or two. However, there are other things that require my time and attention. Because other situations arise and normal responsibilities take longer than expected the painting project takes more time to complete. Currently, I am nearing the end of the painting project. All that I need to do is one more coat of white paint on the trim and then some touch ups where I slopped trim paint on the blue wall. It is interesting, when you stand on the street and look at the house you can’t see the small unfinished areas or the spots that need touching up. But the closer you get the more the flaws and the unfinished painting stand out. In Galatians 5:22-23 we see that God works in the life of the believer to produce certain specific character qualities described as fruit. These fruits are the results of spiritual growth and maturity that become more and more common in our lives. Just as my house could not paint itself so we can’t produce these spiritual results in our lives without the work of God’s Spirit. God’s work, like my painting job, will take time. For example, we are not instantly loving or continually filled with joy, but God is continually at work shaping our character to become more complete. So, as you consider these Christ like character qualities stop and ask, Which one do I need right now? Ask God to develop this area of your life. God will pick up His paint brush called grace and continue His process of making you a better reflection of Himself to our world.

For more see MATTHEW 28:19-20 or WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

Prayer for Transforming Knowledge

3/14/2021

Ephesians 1:15-23
After a long, dark, cold winter many people in the north often find themselves infected with Cabin Fever or Seasonal Affective Disorder. These two do not sound like real diseases but they affect many in the population. Each year numbers of people come down with the symptoms of irritability and depression which are the result of hours in a dark house isolated from the world. The cures are fairly simple… get outside and do something or at least turn on all the lights inside and use bright colors to decorate. Likewise, in Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays that the church will know about God and translate that into a deep relationship with God. He first praises them (15-16), then secondly he tells them what he is praying for them (17-23). He wants them to have the perspective of Godly hope, the value of Godly riches and the power of God’s strength. Paul prays that they will understand what they already have in Christ and that they would implement this knowledge in their life. Like the simple cures for the mid winter blues, Paul provides encouragement and prayer for others who need it. Like the Ephesian church, we also need the encouragement and prayer of others to motivate our spiritual growth. Who is praying for you? Who are you praying for?

For more see EPHESIANS

Signs of Spiritual Maturity

2/7/2021

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
With the snow piling up I have noticed driveways that are not cleared and vehicles still covered in snow or stuck trying to drive through the uncleared snow. A car stuck in the driveway is of no use. The problem is that the owner chooses not to use the resources available to clear the driveway for the car. This may mean picking up a shovel or starting a snowblower. There are no shortcuts available. Clearing a driveway of snow requires attention and effort. In much the same way, becoming spiritually mature requires growth in spiritual knowledge, the effort of love and the continued practice of hope. In the first letter to the Thessalonians we see that Paul was able to present the gospel message to them, but then had to leave because of persecution. Paul begins writing this letter after hearing a good report about their spiritual growth. He notes their work of faith, their labor of love and their steadfast hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). God started the work of faith as they understood the gospel message. The believers then put to use the spiritual resources that they now had and tied their spiritual service to a steadfast hope in Christ. Out of a love for others they spread the message of their faith and held fast to the hope that eternity with Christ is better than the present. There were no shortcuts to their maturity. Likewise our spiritual maturity is measured by our faith, love and hope.

See also 1 Thessalonians