The object of affection - things on earth or things above
The object of our affection is what occupies our thoughts or determines how we act in every situation
Scriptural text
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:1-3 NKJV
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 AMPC
Loving God is upward while loving the world is downward
Your maturity shows in your love for God and people while immaturity shows in loving the world and the things of the world
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].”
Matthew 6:24 AMP
What are the things below that draw us away from Christ that we need to put off
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,”
Colossians 3:5-9 NKJV
These sins come as a result of the object of our affection, that is what we give priority to in our hearts
How is Maturity shown through the object of our affection?
1. Maturity will show in godly virtues
When the object of your affection is God and matters of His kingdom including people then your Maturity will show as the following virtues as Colossians 3:13 puts it
“You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy.
⁃ Be merciful
⁃ endeavour to understand others,
⁃ and be compassionate,
⁃ showing kindness toward all.
⁃ Be gentle and humble,
⁃ unoffendable in your patience with others.”
⁃ Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith,
⁃ forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.”
Colossians 3:13 TPT
2. Maturity is displayed in the rulership of the peace of God over your heart because He is your object of affection
“Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always].”
Colossians 3:15 AMP
3. Maturity is shown in how rich you are in the word which is shown in your application. The one you love is the one whose words you listen to
Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts!”
Colossians 3:16 TPT
4. Your level of obedience to the object of your affection
“Don’t you realize that grace frees you to choose your own master? But choose carefully, for you surrender yourself to become a servant—bound to the one you choose to obey. If you choose to love sin, it will become your master, and it will own you and reward you with death. But if you choose to love and obey God, he will lead you into perfect righteousness.”
Romans 6:16 TPT
5. Maturity shows in your level of giving
You sow with tears, that is you give sacrificially, and you reap beyond your expectation
“They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”
Psalms 126:6 TPT
David demonstrated his affection for God
“Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:”
I Chronicles 29:3 NKJV
6. Maturity is knowing what sacrifice would please God and that is an offering in obedience
There are some sacrifices that God would not accept
Saul in 1 Samuel 15 thought he could give God fat offerings to mask his disobedience
Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. I Sam 15:22
7. Maturity shows in your service
“Every believer has received grace gifts, so use them to serve one another as faithful stewards of the many-coloured tapestry of God’s grace. For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking his words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 TPT
8. Maturity shows in your joy, your object of affection will also be your joy
“Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 AMP
9. Love is the mark of true maturity
“For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.”
Colossians 3:14 TPT
“Above all, constantly echo God’s intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8 TPT
Jesus tested the maturity of Peter with the burner of love
“After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said. Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me?” Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of Jonah, do you have great affection for me?” Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!” Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!”
John 21:15-17 TPT
The Aramaic word for this love is ‘hooba’ which means to set on fire. So the love that shows true maturity is the passionate one that will kindle a holy fire within us
This is the love that compels us to serve God and our fellow believers, to be compassionate, forgiving, giving,
“Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:5 AMP
10. Maturity brings a growing awareness that we must be bold witnesses for Christ.
Being mindful of how we live to the glory of God
“Let every activity of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!”
Colossians 3:17 TPT
You don’t keep quiet about the one you love
“But Peter and John replied, “You can judge for yourselves—is it better to listen to you or to God? It’s impossible for us to stop speaking about all the things we’ve seen and heard!””
Acts 4:19-20 TPT
Conclusion
An immature believer sets his mind on things below, a maturing believer sets his mind on things above
Prayer
What is the object of your affection
Search your heart today
Who rules and reigns over your heart
Who do you devote your time, thoughts, resources and energy to?
Ask the Lord to search you today
Repent of any wrong affection
Make up your mind to intentionally pursue God and matters of his kingdom
Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to keep you focused on things above
Confessions on the object of your affection
I have been raised with Christ to a new life, so I will keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God
I have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created me; giving me the full revelation of God.
I am dead to sin and the things of the world so my real life is hidden with Christ in God
The peace of Christ, the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him will be the controlling factor in my heart, deciding and settling questions that arise in my journey in life
Every activity of my life and every word that comes from my lips will be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
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