"But grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
2 Peter 3:18
In the living room you could see three portraits hanging on the wall. One portrait was a child. Another one was a teenager. The third portrait was a college student. The couple did not have three sons. They had only one. The three portraits were of the same son at three different points in his life. He was growing into manhood. It's only normal for children to grow to become adults. It's also normal for God's children to grow in their faith. We should be able to grow in the strength and maturity of our faith.
The apostle Peter challenged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Our growth in the knowledge of Christ comes from the Bible. Our growth in the grace of Christ comes through experience. His grace not only introduces us to faith in Christ, but His grace sustains us through the experiences of life.
Our faith is tried and tested. God allows this to strengthen us in His amazing grace. The teacher gives the students a test, not to fail them, but to challenge them to excel. God designs our trials to strengthen us in grace, depending upon Him to sustain us. Even when we fail, we see our need for more grace.
Are you growing in your faith? Sometime we get satisfied where we are in our faith relationship with God. He may allow a new test to challenge us to search the Scriptures and increase our prayers for the Spirit of grace. These things are never designed to destroy our faith, but to trust God for more grace and understanding. God delights in our growth to the praise of His glory.
Father, give us grace to grow in Christ.
