Grace And Knowledge

...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.    

– St. Peter, 2 Peter 3:18

God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as His chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly – that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love others and help others, even though every day you feel weak – is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.

- Author J.I. Packer

A week ago, Sunday, Josh Hotsenpiller taught on how adversity leads to opportunity. He shared about a time when he rode an e-bike to the top of the mountain and it left him unfulfilled, as there was no struggle, no adversity, in getting there. He explained that it is the adversity that leads opportunities to grow.

While it would be nice if we matured automatically, true maturity requires active participation and often involves struggle and adversity. We must actively pursue growth in God’s grace, regardless of our circumstances. And while there are various means to growth, God gives us the essential ones in His Word. Each of these verses contain ‘action’ words...

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God...”

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling...”

In Acts 2:42, Dr. Luke shares what the early church did to grow in grace and knowledge, including devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and breaking bread and praying together.

And St. Peter, who closed his second letter with a command to grow in grace and knowledge, actually tells us how to do so in the beginning of his letter where he writes,

“...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Sounds like a great recipe for growth to me.

We will face adversity and struggle in this life, and as Josh reminded us from James 1:2-4, we are to “consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

It is here that we must remind ourselves that joy does not mean happiness, for it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine being happy about our trials.

However, when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, knowing He will walk with us, even carry us when necessary, through those difficult times, and bring us out the other side, there is an abiding joy in us.

We can trust that God is using our times of adversity as an opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

“To Him be glory both now and forever more. Amen.”

Pastor Ken

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