We have so far dealt with the ultimate aim of Christianity or the standard that God has set for us. Secondly, we addressed the issue of the two major provisions of God for us to live up to the standard of God which included the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
In this devotion, we shall focus more on Christian practices and their purpose of transforming us to be like Christ.
Christian Practices
I have engaged many Christians on the subject of spiritual maturity to which most have varying opinions. We seem not have a similar position due to our various spiritual backgrounds. Some say, A Christian who prays a lot is mature spiritually, others argue those who know the Bible well are, others speak of giving material things in church without reservation are mature, still others consider those who never miss church services as mature. I am writing this blog to mainly to offer a different view with the aim of opening our eyes more to what God expects of us. The above practices of Christians are a means to an end rather than an end by themselves. They are meant to take us to a certain destiny and therefore should not viewed as an end by themselves. They are what we call spiritual food for Christians that lead us to maturity as Ephesians 4:13 tells us.
Ephesians 4:13 definition of a mature Christian is one who is like Christ. The above practices of a Christian helps keep us in the presence of God where the Holy Spirit has opportunity to transform our lives and make us like Christ. These practices are therefore very essential in the life of a Christian, but they are a bridge to take us to Jesus and make us more like Him.
The transformation into Christ-likeness cannot be felt physically. Just like we eat our physical food and later we realize from friends that we have grown big or our clothes are not fitting us. You really don’t know when you become more like Christ it just happens. It is a change that happens from the inside and is seen from the outside by our character and way of life. We think different, talk different, see life different, treat people different and our friends can note all this without us having to say anything.
These Christian practices are part of God’s provision for us to become like Christ. The early church was devoted in all this including helping each other (Acts 2:42-47). We should be faithful in prayer, reading God’s word, attending church meetings, giving in church and helping the needy, fasting and all other practices not mentioned. Be faithful in prayer, reading God’s word, attend church, be generous to the needy, fast, and memorize scripture. The best time to practice such disciplines is when you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it. Just like exercise it is best to do it when you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it. You may not see the immediate results, but you will be glad that you did it and it changes you overtime. So go to the spiritual gym of practicing the above spiritual disciplines to become stronger in the Lord, but remember those disciplines are a bridge to make you more like Jesus not an end in themselves.
