Some think that spiritual maturity comes with age while others think that as our intellect develops we can achieve more spiritual maturity in our walk with the Lord. While age and intellect may be of some help, I believe that true spiritual maturity comes mostly through one word – “obedience.”
Oswald Chambers was spot on when he said: “Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will of God.”1 He also shared: “The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience.”2
As we obey the will of God, the Holy Spirit reveals more of how to live the Christian life, fills us with more joy and peace, and teaches us the deeper things contained in the holy Bible. My friends there is just no substitute for growing and maturing in Christ than practicing daily obedience to His perfect will for our lives.
May the following quotes give you a greater sense of how to become more spiritually mature in your walk with the Lord, and just how wonderful this journey is.3
“The ultimate test of our spirituality is the measure of our amazement at the grace of God.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“Your view of God is really the benchmark of your spiritual maturity. Understanding the nature of God is critical to spiritual maturity because in the end you rest in the reality of your God. Superficial knowledge of God, a shallow knowledge of God, a limited knowledge of God contributes to limited understanding and limited faith and limited trust.” – John MacArthur
“When I speak of a man “growing in grace,” I mean simply this – that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual-mindedness more marked. He feels more of the power of godliness in his own heart. He manifests more of it in his life. He is going on from strength to strength, from faith to faith, and from grace to grace.” – J. C. Ryle
“Biblical literacy is not to be confused with Christian maturity. Homiletic accuracy is not the same as godliness. Theological dexterity is very different from practical holiness. Successful leadership is not the same as a heart for Christ. Growth in influence must not be confused with growth in grace.” – Paul David Tripp
“A man may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant.” – Stephen Charnock
“Do you know what the measure of spiritual maturity is in the Scriptures? It is not the display of spiritual emotion, or even the display of spiritual gifts, but the manifestation of spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.” – Gregory Koukl
“Jesus tells his followers to seek first God’s kingdom, ‘and all these things will be added to you.’ We are to trust and obey God, and to follow his call in every inch or our lives, in every second of our time, and with every gift with which we have been endowed. And we are then to leave the result as well as the assessment to God.” – Os Guinness
“A spiritual life cannot be formed without discipline, practice, and accountability.” – Henri Nouwen
“Christians who neglect the Bible simply do not mature.” – John Stott
“Physical maturity is bound to time. Spiritual maturity is bound to obedience.” – John Bevere
“One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others.” – David A. Bednar
“To me, growing into spiritual maturity is becoming less self-conscious and more God-conscious.” – Mark Batterson
“The Bible is the divine means of developing spiritual maturity. There is no other way.” – Howard G. Hendricks
“The proof of spiritual maturity is not how pure you are but awareness of your impurity. That very awareness opens the door to grace.” – Philip Yancey
“Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term values.” – Joshua L. Liebman
“There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. It takes time to be holy.” – Erwin W. Lutzer
“One of the truest tests of spiritual maturity is seeing the miraculous in the monotonous.” – Mark Batterson
“Faithfully caring for the poor and needy is a reflection of spiritual maturity.” – Dean M. Davies
1 Quote by Oswald Chambers: “Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passin…”
2 The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not…
3 All of these quotations listed below in this devotion are from the following websites:
Spiritual-Maturity – Grace Quotes
25 Spiritual Growth Quotes | Christianity.com
TOP 25 SPIRITUAL MATURITY QUOTES | A-Z Quotes
Spiritual Maturity Quotes: top 35 famous quotes about Spiritual Maturity