Reaching the Stature of Christ

[Daily Devotional]

Reaching the Stature of Christ 

     Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:13.  

     The tremendous issues of eternity demand of us something more than
an imaginary religion. A stately form of worship and high devotional
ceremonies do not constitute a light to the world, and yet truth that is
looked upon and admired in the same way as a beautiful picture or lovely
flower, and not brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul, is thought
by many to be all that is required in a worshiper. . . .  

     We shall be saved eternally when we enter in through the gates into
the city. Then we may rejoice that we are saved, eternally saved. But
until then we need to heed the injunction of the apostle, and to "fear,
lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of us
should seem to come short of it" (Heb. 4:1). Having a knowledge of
Canaan, singing the songs of Canaan, rejoicing in the prospect of
entering into Canaan, did not bring the children of Israel into the
vineyards and olive groves of the Promised Land. They could make it
theirs in truth only by occupation, by complying with the conditions, by
exercising living faith in God, by appropriating His promises to
themselves. . . .  

     Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, and when we yield
to His hand we shall steadily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour. We shall make progress until we reach the full stature
of men and women in Christ. Faith works by love, and purifies the soul,
expelling the love of sin that leads to rebellion against, and
transgression of, the law of God. . . . Through the agency of the Holy
Spirit the character is transformed and the mind and will of the human
agent are brought into perfect conformity to the divine will, and this
is conformity to the divine standard of righteousness. To those who are
thus transformed Christ will say, "Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city" (Rev. 22:14).  

>From That I May Know Him - Page 162