Grow!
II Peter 3:18 (ESV)
“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.”
A group of tourists while visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing voice, one of the tourist asked, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.” Every person born in this world are born as a baby. Such is the case when a person is born in Christ, he or she is born as a babe in Christ. No person is born fully grown in life or in the Lord. He or she must go through the growth process and the growth process is gradual. Not only is growing a gradual process but it involves making progress. Every Christian should be intentionally involved in a process of gradual growth evident by fruit bearing progress.
Friends, all of us are born into this world as babies. None of us are born fully grown or great. Growth and greatness takes time. Peter as he closed his second epistle called for God’s people to be on guard for false teachers that will twist Scripture in order to sweep them off their feet and lure them away from sound teaching! Peter in verse eighteen gives Christians the key to avoid being seduced by these false teachers, growth! Peter is saying to guard against the deceptive teachings of false teachers, Christians must grow!
Peter ends his letter as he begun his letter with an exhortation for Christians to pursue maturity and continue deepening their insight and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ! Christians who would do so wouldn’t be led astray! Are you growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? Keep growing!
God, help me to keep maturing and growing in my knowledge of the person and work of your son, Jesus Christ, Amen!