Text:II Peter 3:14-ff
Today we finish up our journey through II Peter. What a blessing his letters have been to the church. They have challenged us to live godly lives and build community especially as we see the end approaching. Peter ends his letter by telling the readers to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter knew all about Christ and followed the Lord’s example of grace. Peter spent many years with the Lord and learned the lessons that transformed his life. May the lives that God has given us be transformed and strengthens to glorify our Father as well.
Too many times we get bogged down with debate and the things of this world. We can strengthen and encourage each other for sure but we need to be careful not to become a stumbling block and cause others to grow weaker. Instead, we are to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. May we build each other up.
The word for grace is charis and carries with it the idea of benefit, liberality, graciousness and pleasure. May we grow to please the Lord. We accomplish this by taking on His nature and character qualities. Take on the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5. Too many times our days and weeks are characterized by the fruits of the flesh and lead to friction and discord. To grow in grace, we need to focus on cultivating a deep relationship with God through prayer, study of the Word, and service to others. Again, these were very clear examples in the life of Christ. We must empty our selves and be filled with the heart of God, I Cor. 1:10-19.
We are also encouraged to grow in knowledge of the Lord. We grow in knowledge through acting out the faith that God gives us. Faith is obedience in action. Not just in the easy or mountain top experiences. Faith is truly lived out in hardships and the valleys that we journey through. Will you and I be faithful even when we do not understand what the Lord is doing? Will we obey even when the cost seems too high to bear? It is in these times that we grow in the knowledge of who God is. It is in these times that we see God high and lifted up. It is in these times that our relationship with the Almighty is taken to the next level. Will you grow today?