Spiritual maturity follows truth wherever it leads

“The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents.” (John 9:18 NIV)

When Jesus healed the man born blind, the religious leaders initiated an investigation to found out exactly what happened. Yet, it appears they’d determined the outcome beforehand.

So, when they found facts that didn’t support their predetermined conclusions, they just kept searching until they could find something that did support their prejudgments.

A sign of our spiritual maturity is when we follow truth wherever it leads; we face the truth no matter how much it hurts; we stand on truth no matter how much it costs.

We’re called to come out of the darkness by being obedient to the truth, who is Jesus Christ, our Lord: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

Jesus calls us to a level of such extraordinary intimacy that it can only be sustained by his constant presence in our lives. He says, “Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:29-30 MSG).

• How would you describe your relationship with God? Would you use the word “intimate” or talk about his constant presence?

• In what ways do you “keep company with God”?

Jon Walker is managing editor of Rick Warren’s Daily Hope Devotionals and the author of Breakfast with Bonhoeffer.

This devotional © Copyright 2013 Jon Walker. All rights reserved. Used by permission.