Grow in the grace of our Lord - 2 Peter 3:18

The apostle Peter wrote to people dear to him to warn them about who they were listening to.  There were false teachers leading them away from their precious faith in Jesus Christ.  His final words to them in Chapter 3 urged them to grow (grow up, become spiritually mature) "in the grace and knowledge of our Lord". 

Alan Redpath said:

"The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment;

the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime."

 

My Bible commentary said "a mature Christian centers his life on Christ".  We will grow no fruit centering our life on the rich and famous!  Growth doesn't just happen; it is an intentional choice we make to do things that promote maturity.

 

What are we reading?

Who are we listening to?

What does our "fruit" look like?

Are we learning the same lessons over and over again?

Are we gathering together and sharing what we're learning?

Are we more mature today than we were last year?

Are we encouraging someone else toward things that help them mature?

 

Just some questions to stimulate us toward growth and becoming who God created us to be!

 

For further study:  Psalm 92:12-15, Hosea 14:8, John 15:1-5, Luke 6:43-45, Galatians 5:23-24, Ephesians 4:11-16, Colossians 1:9-12, 1 Peter 2:2-3, Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-3, James 1:4.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly

 



"Love the Lord our God with all your heart...soul...strength" - Deu. 6:5

When I was growing up, I knew about God.  That suited me just fine - I lived most of my days, until about 30, settling for "a little bit of God".  But then I read John Stott's BASIC CHRISTIANITY and I learned what it meant to surrender all of me.  My life changed at that point because the Lord began to shape - from the inside out - my attitudes, my habits, my behavior, my relationships and much more.

Toby Mac in his song "Steal My Show" talks about what he says to the Lord before a concert:

"If you wanna steal my show

I'll sit back and watch you go;

if you got somethin to say

go on and take it away."

 

To love the Lord with everything we have means to give Him the reigns, to let Him lead, to surrender our selfish ways, and to let Him receive ALL the glory.  It means what Jesus said in Luke 9:

 

"If anyone would come after me, he must

deny himself and take up his cross daily

and follow me."

 

Anything else we love more than Him is a worthless idol.  I'm singing with Toby Mac - it's His show anyway!

 

For further study:  Joshua 22:5, Psalm 42:1, Jeremiah 31:33, Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 7:36-50, Luke 9:23-24, John 14:15, Phillippians 1:9, 1 Peter 2:11.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly