KEEP GROWING IN GRACE

Wednesday 22 January

But grow in grace (undeserved favour, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honour, majesty, and splendour) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! 2 Peter 3:18 (AMPC)

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord… 2 Peter 1:2 (NKJV)

When we first come to Christ, we are told to desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby. We then start out on our new journey. This is the process of the New Creation. As like natural growth we begin to grow spiritually through the Word.

‘and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,’ 1 Peter 2:2

So spiritually, we are new born babies. It is going to take some time before we can walk and talk properly just like babies in the natural. You may be 60 years old but if you just received salvation you are a baby. It’s not a put down, it is simply reality.

When you begin to receive the Word you start to grow and mature. Eventually we need the meat and not the milk of the Word to give us the spiritual protein to have the energy to develop further.

The Apostle Peter in both these text verses is encouraging us at whatever stage of development we are at to keep growing! Many don’t seem to realise however the absolute necessity to grow both in grace and knowledge. Think of it this way. The more you grow in grace the less you will operate in a works or law mentality. The more you grow in knowledge the more you can use it in your daily life.

A lot of times God ‘winks at our ignorance’ even when we think we are informed. He continues to move in our lives many times by His sheer mercy and grace and not because our theology is 100% correct.

A personal example is when I used to believe that holy communion was a legitimate Christian practice and I participated in it regularly. It was even taught by some that taking communion was a time to receive healing. I’ve since found out that holy communion doesn’t exist in the entire Bible. So what about the healings? God is merciful and kind is the answer.

What I didn’t realise is I had made a theology out of something that was a figment of someone’s imagination. As a have grown in grace and knowledge I understand that it is not necessary and God doesn’t need an event to show his healing power. Why does He do it? Because He healed you 2000 years ago. What does this tell us? He is good to all. Period.

It’s the same when we give financially with an expectation to receive. I used to believe that this was correct until I learned that God is my Father not some contractor and that He gave expecting nothing in return as my example of Kingdom giving. I also was under the impression that my giving was the reason why certain financial blessings happened. I have since come to understand that God gives freely to all and does not find fault as James 1:5 tells us. After all He is the ‘giving God’.

These are just a couple of the many instances where I have had to submit to superior knowledge and repent i.e. change my mind and way of doing things. This process of growth and development in grace and knowledge never stops. It’s called the renewal of the mind Romans 12:2.

This is my encouragement to you. Realise God’s mercy and grace will keep working in your life despite your ignorance of certain things. With that being said, keep studying, learning and growing in the ‘Word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified’ Acts 20:32b

APPLICATION

Make a conscious decision to keep your spirit open and receptive to continually grow in the gospel of grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Word.