GROWING

Growing, By Eric Adams, Elder

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”  2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

Summer is winding down, and, for many, school is getting ready to start back up. Students, teachers, and principals are settling in, planning lessons, and diving into new material. Whether heading into a school building full of kids or homeschooling at the kitchen table, new ideas and concepts are being taught everywhere.

Throughout all of our time in school, we are expected to grow in new knowledge and skills (my daughter recently informed me that math this year uses letters). Each grade level introduces new information and a certain set of abilities we're expected to master before you move on to the next level. If an able-bodied 16-year-old high school student was still working on third grade material, that would be odd.

The apostle Peter closes out his second letter encouraging the believers to continue to grow in both the grace and knowledge of Jesus. In the previous verses, Peter warns believers that there are “unstable people” who want to twist scripture, just like in today’s world. We need to be so saturated in the truth that we easily recognize what is false. Peter also reminds us that sometimes topics can be difficult (like Paul’s letters) but that doesn’t mean they are impossible. God gave us his Spirit to teach us, and he promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it (James 1:5).

The writer of Hebrews also wrote some pointed words for believers who are stuck in the elementary levels of the principles of God and have not grown into maturity (Hebrews 5:12-14). We are called to grow and not be stagnant in our knowledge of our Savior. It is arrogant to think that we have reached a certain level of knowledge of our Lord where we don’t need to grow anymore or that we have learned all that there is to know. We serve an infinite God who we can continue to get to know infinitely.

Thankfully, as we grow in Christ throughout our lives and walk in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25), God is the one who gets the glory. He is the source of whatever knowledge of Him we have and whatever actions we take because of His grace.

Growing in knowledge and grace has huge implications for our Christian life. Wherever we are currently in our Christian walk, we can grow and train for godliness with God’s help (1 Timothy 4:7-8). As we get to know our wonderful Savior, we are transformed to be more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). The goal is not merely head knowledge but to know and enjoy Jesus our Savior even more!