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“…I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:14b–19

Paul shows one of the marks of a leader is having a desire for those entrusted to your care to grow and mature in their spiritual walk. We see this as he shares one of his prayers,

“that He would grant you… to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person.”

It is from that place that I write this blog post: as a pastor and leader who longs to see this kind of inner strengthening taking root within the Kapahulu Bible Church community. My prayer is not for fuller calendars, greater attendance, or outward success. My greater desire is for a people who are being formed deeply by the Spirit of God, growing in maturity, love, and faithfulness together.

Our developing maturity reflects a reversal of what Christ Himself did. Jesus gave up His rightful place of authority to dwell with us—to take up residence among us. Spiritual maturity, then, is seen when we willingly lay aside our rights and take up residence with Him, now that He has returned to glory.

Isn't it true that God's desire is that we would be holy as He is holy (1st Peter 1:15–16) and that we would grow to the full stature of maturity that is found in Jesus (Ephesians 4:13)?

Being spiritually mature is to live by faith. We are to view ourselves as citizens of His kingdom. We are to live according to the values and ways of that kingdom in the here and now.

A foundational part of living as citizens of that kingdom is love. The law of the kingdom is love. The love of Christ is the root that produces the fruit that is the confidence of our calling. But this assurance is not realized through isolated or independent activity; it is meant to grow and take shape within the community with all the saints.

To mature fully, we must be engaged within the body of Christ—serving one another, as Paul teaches in Galatians 5:13, and regarding others as more important than ourselves, as he exhorts in Philippians 2:3. This is how we grow toward maturity. This is how we come to more fully know and understand God.

So, as we prepare room in our hearts for Christ—as we invite Him to dwell with us—let’s not forget the importance of the greater ʻohana He calls us to love and regard. Ask God where He is already at work within the body, and where you might come alongside a brother or sister in faith, serving and regarding them, to reflect the love of Christ.

Enjoy the day by making way for our King of kings, letting Him guide our steps.

Mele Kalikimaka!