June 21, 2012 - 2 Peter 3:18

            “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever!  Amen.”  2 Peter 3:18.

            As I was on one of my exercise walks, I asked God to shine His light on one of the verses that I memorized during one of our Discipleship groups.  He seemed to light up the concluding verse of Peter’s Second Letter.  I was particularly impacted by the first part of the verse, “growing in the grace and knowledge” of the Lord.  Growing implies movement; advancement; an on-going process; the continuation of a journey.  One who continues to grow is one who is moving forward and is not standing still.  Growth is what happens in life when a person is learning and knows that he or she has not arrived.  Growing is having the humility to say, “I don’t know”.

            I also thought of the importance of growing in both, grace and knowledge.  Growing in grace without knowledge can lead to straying from the truth of the Word, or it can lead, as a famous Bible teacher stated, to “sloppy agapay.”  Growing in knowledge without grace can lead to harshness or even cruelty.  Grace and knowledge need to be in concert with each other.  We, in humility, need to be continuing to always be growing in the grace of the Lord Jesus and in the knowledge of Him.

            Questions to consider: To you, what does it mean to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  How have you been growing in His grace and knowledge? What is the fruit of your growing?

            Prayer: Father, it is my desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for the many times when I think I can do this on my own.  Amen.