When a Mature Christian Looks at Life
Bailey Smith
Philippians 1:3-7, 12-14, 21-26
An old poem tells of a cat going to London to visit the famed Buckingham Palace. When the cat leaves the island to return home, he never tells his friends about the changing of the guard in all of its glamour and ritual. He doesn't mention the tapestried walls of the palace, the jeweled crown of the Queen, the rare and prized works of art, nor does he comment about the Queen with whom he visited. The only thing the cat can remember is the well-fed mouse under the Queen's chair.
The point of this rather whimsical poem is simply this: What one is, generally determines what one sees. Is this not true? The vulture flying over a field of fragrant roses never sees the roses, but spots immediately the carcass of a dead animal. The man who says that there isn't an honest man in the world usually has a character problem himself. If Hitler and Schweitzer could both look at the same world, one would see a chance to exploit gullible peasants while the other would see an opportunity for benevolent service. The mature Christian, because of what he is, sees the world as no other person sees it. When a mature Christian looks at life, his vision is colored by his relationship to his Lord and his fellowman. This, of course, is the type that you and I want to be. We understand that we cannot view the experiences of life as the common, average, unredeemed man. We know that being a mature Christian demands more than an easy approach to life.
The epitome of Christian maturity is found in the life of the great Apostle Paul. Taking him as an example, let us find out what a mature Christian sees when he looks at life.
A MATURE CHRISTIAN SEES THE VALUE OF JOYFUL FRIENDSHIPS
Paul is grateful for his unusually fine friends in Philippi. He says, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel f ...
Bailey Smith
Philippians 1:3-7, 12-14, 21-26
An old poem tells of a cat going to London to visit the famed Buckingham Palace. When the cat leaves the island to return home, he never tells his friends about the changing of the guard in all of its glamour and ritual. He doesn't mention the tapestried walls of the palace, the jeweled crown of the Queen, the rare and prized works of art, nor does he comment about the Queen with whom he visited. The only thing the cat can remember is the well-fed mouse under the Queen's chair.
The point of this rather whimsical poem is simply this: What one is, generally determines what one sees. Is this not true? The vulture flying over a field of fragrant roses never sees the roses, but spots immediately the carcass of a dead animal. The man who says that there isn't an honest man in the world usually has a character problem himself. If Hitler and Schweitzer could both look at the same world, one would see a chance to exploit gullible peasants while the other would see an opportunity for benevolent service. The mature Christian, because of what he is, sees the world as no other person sees it. When a mature Christian looks at life, his vision is colored by his relationship to his Lord and his fellowman. This, of course, is the type that you and I want to be. We understand that we cannot view the experiences of life as the common, average, unredeemed man. We know that being a mature Christian demands more than an easy approach to life.
The epitome of Christian maturity is found in the life of the great Apostle Paul. Taking him as an example, let us find out what a mature Christian sees when he looks at life.
A MATURE CHRISTIAN SEES THE VALUE OF JOYFUL FRIENDSHIPS
Paul is grateful for his unusually fine friends in Philippi. He says, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel f ...
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