2 Peter 3:18.

Growing In Grace

Dear Friends,

For several months the single most burning issue has been drawing closer to Jesus, to "…grow up to the full measure of the stature of Jesus" Ephesians 4:13. When asked to teach during our Wednesday evening DTS (Discipleship Training School) I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to teach on "The Nine Principles Of Spiritual Growth".

There is in my own heart a recognition that the "first love", that first zeal and expectation of God’s presence, was no longer as strong. Where I once anticipated that the Holy Spirit would use me to do powerful things in the Kingdom, I now find myself satisfied with occasional ministry opportunities.

This morning’s devotion spoke to the need to "Grow In Grace". Unless we purpose to grow we will decline. You may say, "Isn’t Grace something God gives?" I answer, Yes…and He commands that we "Grow in grace". Let us determine to lay hold of all that the Lord has for us that His purpose and Holy will may be done in us – completely!

"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."— 2 Peter 3:18

"Grow in grace"—not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fulness, constancy, simplicity.

Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed.

Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward —having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus.

May God the Holy Spirit enable you to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know him is "life eternal," and to advance in the knowledge of him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus—as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of his love. If you do not desire to know him better, then you love him not, for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of him in his divine nature, in his human relationship, in his finished work, in his death, in his resurrection, in his present glorious intercession, and in his future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of his wounds. An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of his love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace.

cloy ( kloi) v. cloyed cloy·ing cloys v. tr. 1. To cause distaste or disgust by supplying with too much of something originally pleasant, especially something rich or sweet; surfeit.

Spurgeon, Charles H.
Morning and evening : Daily readings / Charles H. Spurgeon.—Complete and unabridged;
New modern edition.—Peabody, MA : Hendrickson Publishers, c1991. 746 p.

Amen - let it be so.
Shalom

Bob Goldsby

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City Harvest Church Vancouver, WA