Aleksey Fomichenko’s Reviews > Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life > Status Update

Many Christians discover that it is in the loss of what is important or familiar to them that their contentment is tested—and real spiritual growth takes place.

God pursues his purposes through all our experiences, whether easy or difficult, happy or sad, because he wants our lives to ‘yield' the fruit in us of the image of his Son.

The way not to 'be weary' is by considering Christ. Of course we face difficulties that make us feel like throwing in the towel. But what are ours compared to his?

If we concentrate our attention on the problems we face instead of on the Saviour we have, we will lose perspective.

All sin beguiles, entangles, besets, and destroys. That is its inherent nature. All sin, every sin, sin in any shape or form must be put off.

Perseverance is a basic feature of Christian living. Persevering is as important as initiation; continuing is as important as beginning.

Gifts, character, desire, and willingness to be the servant of others are keys to ministry in the church-and in any healthy church these will be noticed.

Only in the light of Calvary will we, with Paul, discover how the mystery of our suffering can be transformed into a ministry. We do not yet fully understand all of the details. But we know that Christ’s greater suffering makes sense of our lesser suffering. We know too that it is in fellowship with that Great Sufferer that our own experience of suffering will lead us to Christian maturity and fruitfulness.

Duty—simple obedience to the commandments of God, daily conformity to his will—is one of our most important safeguards. Failure to be about our duties inevitably exposes us to greater temptations while it also weakens our resistance to them.