Discerning the Divine: Understanding Spiritual Maturity

Have you ever played a game where you have to identify the shade of a particular color that differs from several closely related shades? Our ability to distinguish good from evil is similar to this game. Just as there are many shades that appear good but do not come from God, our spiritual maturity is reflected in our ability to understand these differences.

Easier-to-identify sins, such as sexual immorality or inappropriate speech, demonstrate our level of maturity. For instance, discerning between having a drink and getting drunk is an essential aspect of basic discernment (Ephesians 5:18). At this level, recognizing good and evil might feel like spotting an alarming dark green against a multitude of similar greens. But what happens when good and evil begin to appear more similar to one another? How do we respond?

Consider the statement: “There’s a difference between a good thing and a God thing.” Many affirm this as biblical wisdom, which on the surface seems good. However, it contains a shade of truth that can ultimately lead to a lie. James 1:17 reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” This implies that there is no distinction between a good gift and a God gift; all good comes from God. To suggest otherwise would mean that some good gifts do not originate from Him.

Another example arises when we claim that God did not give us something because we were not ready. Scripture asserts in 2 Peter 1:3 that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” If we fail to see the gifts and opportunities before us in Christ, it is not because we are unprepared, but rather due to our unwillingness to act on them. This notion may sound biblical at first glance, but upon closer examination, it falls short.

A final example involves our understanding of how the gospel works. We often assume that we have planted a seed simply by sharing the gospel, but nowhere in Scripture does it say that a seed lays dormant to be born in the future. Jesus teaches in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) that the condition of the soil (the heart) is crucial for the seed (the word of God) to take root. If this were the case, everyone would be saved simply because time has passed; however, we must recognize that good soil is necessary for growth.

These examples are significant because even the most seemingly mature leaders may articulate these concepts as biblical, inadvertently paving the way for unbiblical jargon to saturate the believer’s mind.

To clarify, spiritual maturity involves more than merely refraining from sin; it encompasses the ability to discern what aligns with God’s will versus what does not (Hebrews 5:14). It is the ability to understand or discern what the scripture is calling one to throughout one’s journey in Christ. In essence, it is about understanding obedience and disobedience to God’s desires. We have already been equipped with spiritual maturity and the capacity to live righteously, but if we do not transform our minds by allowing the Holy Spirit to teach, convict, and guide us, then we will not live out the divine maturity granted to us (Romans 12:2). Our spiritual maturity is directly tied to our humility in following Jesus through the Holy Spirit, who is His helper (John 14:26).