Title: Transformation and Maturity/1 Peter 5:1
Content Change and Maturity/1 Peter 5:1
The world is said to be the age of emotions. Cell phones, cars, clothes, buildings, even advertising flyers seek sophistication. It's because people don't care if they don't look at them.
These ideas naturally entered the church, and they began to pursue sophistication not only in the weekly newsletter but also in various events of the church. Of course, the church must also be refined. But refining is something that almost anyone can do well with the passing of time and many repetitions.
However, we must know that the first thing the church should seek is transformation, not refinement. In particular, transformation and maturity are possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Those who have truly accepted Jesus as their Savior cannot leave Jesus and the church even if they feel that way because the Holy Spirit is in them.
Religious people can do anything without being changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. You can get excited too. But change is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Second, long for maturity after change. The world boasts of sophistication. However, the saints should not long for refinement after being changed, but for maturity. It is something a Christian to long for in this world to be nice and stylish, but before we can long for sophistication, we must go in the direction of longing for maturity.
Refinement is possible without the power of the Holy Spirit. As long as it is repeated, it can be made more refined. However, maturity is the grace that comes from walking with the Lord for a long time after being changed. When I die, Christ lives and appears in me.
Peter, who loved to do so, says in his epistle, “I exhort the elders among you, I am an elder with you” (1 Peter 5:1). He was actually a disciple of Jesus. He was someone who always liked to go out. However, after being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, he entered the path of maturity using the same title as elder with others.