Bible Verse of the Day Tuesday February 21st, 2023

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!

Growing in Christ's grace and Knowledge, Jesus speaks of our sanctification process and spiritual growth. The terms grace and knowledge are two separate concepts that work in conjunction. Our spiritual growth is personal between our Savior and us, and we should measure it alongside our Savior and not others. Sometimes we might be tempted to look at those around us and say that we have grown more than they have. There is an obvious problem with this concept. If we compare our spiritual growth with others, there might be a time that we might say that we have grown more than the other people in our circle, allowing Satan to tempt us to halt our spiritual growth process. On the other hand, if we always gauge our spiritual growth alongside Christ Jesus, there will never come a day that we will complete this life. This growth will necessitate a daily regimen of prayer, Bible study, and service to God and others as long as there is breathe in our bodies.

The grace we are growing in is something we cannot control; it is from God, through God, and Him alone. God's grace is unmerited and undeserved love given to us through no works or deeds in and of ourselves, but only because of God's great love for all people (John 3:16). Knowledge, on the other hand, is something that we do have some control. God's Holy Spirit will lead us into the Knowledge of the grace of God in and through the Holy Word of God. Although God's plan for us to grow in God's Knowledge and grace is simple, some will try to complicate it. God has provided His Word on earth since He told Adam and Eve that although they had sinned, He would send a savior to atone for those sins. To experience growth in the Knowledge of God's grace, we will have to put forth some effort, daily prayer, Bible study, service to God and others, and a sincere heart’s desire to spread the Gospel to all people on the earth (Acts 1:8). 

Some might say spreading the gospel is the job of the pastor, evangelist, Sunday school, and bible study teachers. The message Christ Jesus left for His followers and believers when He ascended back to Heaven was given in the presence of eleven disciples who followed Him in every step while He was on the earth. However, the message applied not only to the eleven there that day but to all who have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior (Acts 1:8).

If that were not true, it would make sense that God would take us home at the point of our salvation. But instead, God left us here one heartbeat after our salvation to tell others of His saving Grace and that He can do for them what He has done for us. When Jesus was here on earth, He was in a human body similar to ours; He had feet to carry Him, hands to minister to those he came into contact with, and a mouth to tell people that in Him was eternal life. Now that Jesus is in Heaven, we, as His children are the eyes, mouth and legs for Jesus to carry His gospel to the ends of the Earth. The bottom line is the truth that God saves us to serve.