Maturing by Achieving… or Maturing by Abiding?
I don’t climb toward maturity—I grow deeper in Christ, and He bears the fruit through me.
A Conversation About Growth, Fruit, and the Grace That Carries Us
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him…” – Colossians 2:6
A Parking Lot Chat After the Men's Breakfast
Jake:
Sometimes I just wonder if I’m growing at all. I mean, I’m reading my Bible, showing up to church, volunteering. But I still struggle with the same junk. And then I look around at guys who seem “further along” and think—what am I missing?
Me:
Oh man, I remember that feeling all too well. I used to measure my maturity by how many Christian things I was doing. Quiet time? Check. Accountability group? Check. Bible memorization? Double check. But deep down, I always felt like I was trying to catch up to some ideal version of myself I never quite reached.
Jake’s View: Spiritual Growth = Spiritual Productivity
Jake shrugs. “But isn’t growth the whole point? Hebrews 5:14 talks about maturing through constant practice. Philippians 3 says to press on toward the goal. And 1 Corinthians 3 talks about spiritual infants needing milk instead of solid food.”
He flips open his Bible app:
2 Peter 3:18 – “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord…”
Hebrews 6:1 – “Let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ…”
Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“I mean,” Jake says, “shouldn’t maturity show up in how disciplined and fruitful I am?”
My Response: True Maturity Isn’t Measured—It’s Borne
I nod. “Those verses are true—and growth is good. But have you noticed how often Scripture ties maturity not to what weaccomplish, but to our union with Christ? Jesus didn’t say, ‘Achieve for Me’—He said, ‘Abide in Me.’ That’s the foundation of all growth.”
Jake looks intrigued.
I flip to John 15:5. “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit…” Fruitfulness isn’t the result of spiritual hustle—it’s the result of staying connected to the vine.
“Colossians 2:6 really helped me,” I add. “Just as you received Christ… continue in Him.” I didn’t begin this life by achievement. I began by trusting. And that’s how I mature too—by continuing in that same posture of trust and dependence.”
Achievement vs. Abiding: Two Very Different Paths
Jake sighs. “So… maturity isn’t me getting stronger?”
“Not in the way we usually think,” I reply. “It’s actually becoming more aware of your weakness—and learning to draw everything from Him. That’s why Paul could say, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong’ (2 Cor. 12:10).”
“Growth isn’t about adding spiritual muscles—it’s about deeper dependence. It’s not climbing a ladder. It’s growing deeper roots.”
Jake laughs. “That’s a relief. Because I don’t think I have any more ladders in me.”
A Grace-Oriented Appeal
If you’ve been measuring your maturity by what you’ve achieved—pause.
Jesus isn’t handing out gold stars for religious performance. He’s inviting you to abide. To remain. To rest in Him as your very life.
Fruit doesn’t come from striving—it comes from staying connected. Maturity doesn’t come by pushing harder—it comes by trusting deeper.
You don’t grow up in Christ by doing more. You grow as you keep drawing from the One who already made you new.
So today, maybe ask not, “Am I achieving enough?” but, “Am I abiding?”
Because in the Kingdom, abiding is how you grow.
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