I remember attending a well known training years ago where I learned that our maturation process begins at the stage of dependence, then transitions to independence, and finally arrives at interdependence.  I see God’s process as a different paradigm all together.

Maturing in Christ begins when we give up our perceived independence, embrace our dependence, and are refined further in our interdependence.  Over our lifetime of walking with Christ we should not be afraid to plunge more and more deeply into the depths of dependence in Him.  While this dependence remains primary, we are called to function as the body of Christ with other believers.  Ephesians 4:11-16 says:

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Reflection

So we are to mature in Christ and function as we are gifted in our dependence on Him.  The next time you are in a trial, could it be possible that God is growing your dependence?  After all the Christian life is a life of dependence on the person of Jesus Christ and His work at the cross.  What would happen if we stop trying to figure out all the solutions for the moment, pray and depend on Him.  If He truly is Lord over all, wouldn’t He have the best solution?  Wouldn’t He be able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine?  Let’s praise Him today for His work of breaking our pride and maturing us in our dependence on Him!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we cry out to you to squash our pride.  Renew our minds in the truth that Jesus is truly all we need.   Re-wire our hearts to desire a deeper dependence on You. May our minds clearly believe and say, “One thing I ask, that I may seek You and dwell in Your presence forever”.  We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen!