The Measure of Maturity: The Speed of Obedience

To those who are elect ... according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ ...
1 Peter 1:1-2 (emphasis added)

The measure of maturity is determined by the speed of obedience. The most mature Christ follower is not the person who has attended the most church events or accumulated the most information about Jesus, but rather the person whose heart is most transformed. And transformation is seen when a person hears God and responds with swift obedience…swift obedience…creates missional velocity in the church.

--Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson, and Eric Bramlet, The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your ChurchThrough Creative Collaboration, p.59-60

Everyone's Looking for It

When you find something or someone that both (1) fills you with joy and (2) is strong enough to uphold you when your world is falling apart, you have found salvation.

Nothing less will do.

Anything in creation can meet the first requirement. Nothing in creation can meet the second requirement.

Only the Creator meets both.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and has become my salvation."  With joy you [who speak in such a way] will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:2-3 (emphasis added)