Page 4 - 13 June 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 13 JUNE 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have grows and every supporting
ligament, grows and builds
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary
itself up in love, as each part
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn
does its work.
Hughes devotionals):
I Corinthians 3:1-15:
Brothers and sisters, I could
Continuing on from what we myself and others when I
said yesterday we ask think in terms of spiritual not address you as people
them to me. Have I now ourselves: What does it maturity - relating correctly who live by the Spirit but as
people who are still worldly -
become your enemy by mean to have a vision for to God, to others, and to mere infants in Christ. I gave
telling you the truth? Those people - an image of what, by myself. you milk, not solid food, for
people are zealous to win God's grace and through A prayer to make: Father, I you were not yet ready for it.
you over, but for no good. the power of the Spirit, they must measure myself Indeed, you are still not
What they want is to alienate can become? First and against this standard and ready. You are still worldly.
you from us, so that you may foremost it involves having a see how well I come out.
Another of Jesus' great Timothy, he's a fine young have zeal for them. It is fine clear understanding of For since there is jealousy
qualities was His ability to man. He's a little fearful, but I to be zealous, provided the spiritual maturity. D o I h a v e a g o o d and Quarrelling among you,
see the potential in people. see him overcoming that purpose is good, and to be It is impossible to move relationship with You, with are you not worldly? Are you
Take Matthew, for example. shortcoming and moving on so always, not just when I am t o w a r d s a g o a l , o r others and with myself? I not acting like mere
Many would have said that a to be a mighty servant of with you. My dear children, encourage someone else to want to be truly mature. Help humans?
man who had been an God.' for whom I am again in the move towards a goal, unless me examine my heart. In For when one says, 'I follow
unscrupulous tax collector Do you have a similar vision pains of childbirth until the goal itself is clear. Jesus’ name. Amen. Paul,' and another, 'I follow
was unlikely to be chosen by for people? A vision of what Christ is formed in you, how Further study: Apollos,' are you not mere
Jesus as a disciple. I wish I could be with you Whatever definition of human beings? What, after
they can become? Jesus had Acts 2:42-47: They devoted
Jesus, however, saw him not it. And we can have it too. now and change my tone, spiritual maturity we choose themselves to the apostles' all, is Apollos? And what is
as he had been, and not as because I am perplexed to accept, it must contain teaching and to fellowship, Paul? Only servants, through
he was, but as he could be. A prayer to make: O Father, about you! s o m e r e f e r e n c e t o to the breaking of bread and whom you came to believe -
what a difference it will make
There were, in fact, three I Samuel 16:1 13 r e l a t i o n s h i p s . M a n y to prayer. Everyone was filled as the Lord has assigned to
Matthews: the Matthew he in my approach to people Christians are mature in their with awe at the many each his task. I planted the
himself saw, the Matthew when I see them not as they Psalm 78:70-72: He chose understanding of the faith w o n d e r s a n d s i g n s seed, Apollos watered it, but
others saw, and the Matthew are but as they can be. Help David his servant and took but they cannot relate well to performed by the apostles. God has been making it
me from this day on to apply
Jesus saw. him from the sheepfolds; others. Thus they are not grow. So neither the one who
this principle in all my from tending the sheep he totally mature. 'The central All the believers were plants nor the one who
Each thought he saw the relationships. In Jesus' brought him to be the thing in maturity,' said Dr E. together and had everything waters is anything, but only
true Matthew. Who was name. Amen. shepherd of his people Stanley Jones, 'is fellowship.' in common. They sold God, who makes things
right? It was Jesus. Those who cannot have property and possessions to
Further study: Jacob, of Israel his grow. The one who plants
The Master invested three inheritance. And David fellowship with others are give to anyone who had and the one who waters have
years of His life in him, and Galatians 4:8-20: Formerly, shepherded them with i n g r o w n a n d h e n c e need. Every day they one purpose, and they will
he turned out to be the when you did not know God, integrity of heart; with skilful immature persons. continued to meet together each be rewarded according
M a t t h e w o f i n f i n i t e you were slaves to those who hands he led them. The Early Christians, whose in the temple courts. They to their own labour. For we
possibilities, the man who by nature are not gods. But broke bread in their homes are fellow workers in God's
wrote a Gospel that has now that you know God - or Acts 9:10-16: In Damascus activities are described in the and ate together with glad service; you are God's field,
survived the centuries. rather are known by God - there was a disciple named passage before us today, and sincere hearts, praising God's building. By the grace
how is it that you are turning Ananias. The Lord called to created the most mature God and enjoying the favour
Jesus did not look on people back to those weak and him in a vision, ‘Ananias!' form of society that has ever of all the people. And the God has given me, I laid a
as they were, but perceived miserable forces? Do you 'Yes, Lord,' he answered. The existed. The quality of their Lord added to their number foundation as a wise builder,
what they could become. wish to be enslaved by them Lord told him, 'Go to the fellowship was quite different daily those who were being and someone else is
Today He looks on you and all over again? You are house of Judas on Straight from anything previously saved. building on it. But each one
sees what you can become. observing special days and Street and ask for a man experienced. And that should build with care. For
no one can lay any
And just as a sculptor months and seasons and from Tarsus named Saul, for fellowship was twofold: they Ephesians 4:13-16: . . . foundation other than the
until we all reach unity in the
envisages what he is going to years! I feat for you, that he is praying. In a vision he had fellowship with God and faith and in the knowledge of one already laid, which is
create from a stone, so we somehow I have wasted my has seen a man named fellowship with each other. In the Son of God and become Jesus Christ.
must learn to do the same efforts on you. I plead with Ananias come and place his fact, they became known as mature, attaining to the
with people. This is what you, brothers and sisters, hands on him to restore his much for the way they lived whole measure of the If anyone builds on this
Paul is talking about in the become like me, for I sight.' 'Lord,' Ananias as for what they believed. fullness of Christ. Then we foundation using gold, silver,
passage before us today. became like you. You did me answered, 'I have heard Our maturity can be will no longer be infants, costly stones, wood, hay or
Listen to Eugene Peterson's no wrong. As you know, it many reports about this man measured by the depth of tossed back and forth by the straw, their work will be
paraphrase of his words was because of an illness and all the harm he has done our capacity for fellowship. shown for what it is, because
taken from The Message: that I first preached the to your holy people in Every problem I have come waves, and blown here and the Day will bring it to light.
'Do you know how I feel right gospel to you, and even Jerusalem. And he has across in counselling other there by every wind of It will be revealed with fire,
teaching and by the cunning
now, and will feel until though my illness was a trial come here with authority than those rooted in a have and craftiness of people in and the fire will test the
Christ's life becomes visible to you, you did not treat me from the chief priest to arrest come across in counselling quality of each person's
in your lives? Like a mother with contempt or scorn. all who call on your name.' (other than those rooted in a their deceitful scheming. work.
in the pain of childbirth.' If I Instead, you welcomed me But the Lord said to Ananias, malfunctioning physiology) Instead, speaking the truth If what has been built
could ask Paul some as if I were an angel of God, 'Go! This man is my chosen has had at its core a in love, we will grow to survives, the builder will
questions one of my first as if I were Christ Jesus instrument to proclaim my relational component. become in every respect the receive a reward. If it is
would be this: 'Paul, what is himself. Where, then, is your name to the Gentiles and mature body of Him who is burned up, the builder will
your vision for Timothy? Tell blessing of me now? I can their kings and to the people The person with the problem the head, that is, Christ. suffer loss but yet will be
me what you see in him.' I testify that, if you could have of Israel. I will show him how is not relating well to God, to From Him the whole body, saved - even though only as
t h i n k h e w o u l d s a y done so, you would have much he must suffer for my others, or to him- or herself. joined and held together by one escaping through the
something like this: 'Ah, torn out your eyes and given name.' That is the vision I have for every supporting ligament, flames.