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When we become Christians, we are given all we need for spiritual maturity. Peter tells us that “[God’s] divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).

The Apostle Paul gives us the challenge.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

ESV (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Corinthians 14:20–21

God alone is our resource, and all growth comes by grace through Him, but we are responsible to make the choice to obey. Peter again helps us in this area: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Master Jesus the Messiah” (2 Peter 1:5–8).

Being effective and fruitful in the knowledge of the Master Jesus is the essence of spiritual maturity. One of the big obstacles that holds us back from maturity is pride.

  • 1 Timothy 3:6 — 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
  • 1 Peter 5:5 — 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

We have good news! Want to know how to be saved? Click here or here for more.

Jesus is our model for humility. Jesus shows us the way. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must learn from Him. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. I have the Spirit of the living God in me to give me power. Now that is some exceptionally good news!

  • John 13:12–17 (NASB) — 12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 “You call Me Teacher and Master; and you are right, for so I am. 14 “If I then, the Master and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
  • Matthew 11:29–30 — 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
  • Ephesians 5:25 — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
  • Philippians 2:5 — 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in the Messiah Jesus,
  • 1 Peter 2:21 — 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since the Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,