To Grow and Know

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 

II Peter 3:18

It all starts with grace. Grace leads to relationship. 

Peter doesn't say to grow in our ability to pray, to witness, to memorize scripture or to do good deeds. Those are all good things and spiritually beneficial. But, he does not point us to this we have to do. He directs us to focus on the grace we have in Christ and the relationship that grace affords.

Knowing Jesus Christ is personal. We know him as Lord because he is and we know him as Savior because that is what he did. The Lord of all things, came to earth, lived as a man, died for our sins, rose again and sits at the right hand of the Father ever living to intercede on our behalf. 

Growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ is not mere facts. Reading the Bible is not about being able to say that you know the Bible, it is about being able to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we are in the middle of a trail knowing Christ enables us to discern God's hand. Sometimes that is simply acting on the truth that even though we can't see what God is doing at the moment, we know he promised to work all things for the good. He is Sovereign and he is gracious. 

Father, help us to grow in our knowledge you, our Lord and Savior. Praise be to you in us today!

Another Day for Grace

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

I am a teacher and there are some things I do every day with my students. We review some basic grammar concepts for just couple of minutes because although every book and teacher assumes all students know and understand basic grammar, they don't. Normally, after about three months it starts kicking in, but I have a class this year that it wasn't until just last week they started to really demonstrate that they knew basic grammar. It took a while but they got there. The key is that I know that if I review  a concept for just a few minutes daily the students will learn retain much more than if they have long lessons spread out over the year. 

God knows what he is doing with our world. He keeps sending his messengers, us, to tell the world of salvation through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people misunderstand his apparent delay of judgement. The delay is grace, not neglect. He just keeps offering repentance to the world. Every day we are a testimony to those around us. Each day the Holy Spirit works to bring people to repentance. 

Think about this today as you interact with people at work, school or just when you are out and about. God is giving each person you see another day to accept his grace.

DO YOU MANAGE YOUR SIN?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)

I must admit that I have been struggling with these verses. Mainly because I have been wrestling with my understanding of sin management in my own life. You see, if I view these verses as a pathway to manage my sin I will fall into the sanctification/holiness by works trap. But, if I look at them as a pathway to participation in the divine nature then it's more about accepting the holiness God has given me in Christ (see I Corinthians 1:30). 

When Peter says to add to my faith goodness he is not telling me to remember to be good enough. He is just reminding me of the direction I need to point myself. Somehow an ungodly saying got into my head last week. Finally, yesterday I thought to think of a godly saying. So, I started saying to myself, "The holier, the happier". I know it's hokey. I wasn't trying to be a theologian. I was just trying to win the battle for my mind. I was trying to have a good thought, a virtuous thought aim my thinking, not an ungodly one. You know, it has helped me to redirect my thinking. Just a little effort to add goodness to my faith. 

Father, help us to add goodness to our faith. Thank you that you are our holiness (I Corinthians 1:30)! Praise be to you in us today!