tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post4585001922767038014..comments2024-02-27T10:27:03.841-05:00Comments on The Double Edged Sword: Spiritual Maturation: Part 3 (Conclusion)Joel Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-38590139393379224932009-03-26T16:46:00.000-04:002009-03-26T16:46:00.000-04:00Ferrari: Bluntness is one thing I seemingly have l...Ferrari: Bluntness is one thing I seemingly have little problem with. :)<BR/><BR/>Your "doctor" analogy works well as we are responsible for our own spiritual health. Noone else will be able to answer for whether I chose to mature or not in the LORD.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your understanding and transparency. We can <I>all</I> go deeper for there are no limits of the greatness of God to be discovered.Joel Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-14669373807784292872009-03-25T15:51:00.000-04:002009-03-25T15:51:00.000-04:00Thank you for being blunt. No matter how blunt yo...Thank you for being blunt. No matter how blunt you are you are never harsh, i can tell everything you say is said with love and concern.<BR/><BR/>You are so right, we are far to comfortable with our milk. We shouldn't look to our pastor alone for spiritual growth- its not fair to expect one man to fed an entire conregation that is all at different spiritural "ages". We need to take responciblity for our health. We dont expect doctors alone to keep us healthy we need to eat right and exercise in between visits. <BR/><BR/>I am guilty too often of being content with where i was and not wanting to go deeper. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for challenging me! <BR/><BR/>God bless ^_^Ferrarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08988628027983010774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-16257140891181709532009-03-22T10:48:00.000-04:002009-03-22T10:48:00.000-04:00Nina: Your statement, "Many people have given thei...<B>Nina:</B> Your statement, "Many people have given their lives to the church, but have not yet committed themselves to God." could not have better summed up much of what I attempt to get across here. Devotion to "service" and "services" is absolutely not what it's about! Praise God I have found freedom in daily walking with Christ.<BR/><BR/><B>Vicki:</B> I often hear from people who initially get kind of riled up over some of these articles. The thing is, if we're never offended, we're never challenged to go deeper. I need others to say, "you know what, you need to step it up!" every now and then.<BR/><BR/>We are a Body - all necessary and responsible to assist one another. Love takes on many forms. :)<BR/><BR/>Regarding your realization, as I said in the post, we cannot continue to expect such little spiritual maturity in our lives. I can no longer do at 35 what I did when I was 10 in the natural - why should it not be likewise according to spiritual matters? <BR/><BR/>Blessings as you embark on feasting upon the solid foods!Joel Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02474230869182287895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-1086060814576430912009-03-21T09:56:00.000-04:002009-03-21T09:56:00.000-04:00Well, my first inclination was I got upset at much...Well, my first inclination was I got upset at much of what you shared. Then I sat back and asked myself why. It would seem that I too have settled for milk bottles for far too long. As you said, it would be ridiculous for me to do now as a grown woman what I did when I was a teen. We just don't seem to be challenged to mature in our spiritual growth so I guess it continues to go unaddressed.<BR/><BR/>Thankfully, you are desiring to see that change in the body of Christ. Thanks for the challenge to grow up, though painful it might be at this point!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25635043.post-36061291586306520062009-03-20T17:21:00.000-04:002009-03-20T17:21:00.000-04:00Great ending. I think that just as you wrote,many ...Great ending. I think that just as you wrote,many people choose not to mature spiritually because they want to take the easy way out. This has suddenly become human nature. Example; the microwave, the pre-packaged foods,the divorce rate, the subway station etc. Which ever way is fastest and more convenient works and no one wants to put too much effort into anything anymore. "Ignorance is bliss." "The faster, the better!""What you don't know can't hurt you." "If you cant beat them join them!"All of these things have become motto's that mankind has begun to live by. But as we often find with these get results quick schemes there is more often than not repercussions for taking the easy way out. We must learn to stop putting our personal well being in the hands of other people and devices and put in the work that we need to get valuable results. "Being saved" is not enough. Truthfully when people have this attitude I believe that it is within reason for them to question their salvation. Many people have given their lives to the church, but have not yet committed themselves to God. As believer's we should have a thirst for knowledge that should come natural if as you say we are "born from above". We should be seeking first the kingdom of God which is found through knowledge of the word and through personal relationship with the Father. We should be growing spiritually daily. And just like with everything else that exists, "ANYTHING THAT IS NOT GROWING IS DEAD!"Ninapoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02261153613707778441noreply@blogger.com