Grow in Grace and Knowledge
Date: March 3, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
Bible Scripture Verse – 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! Amen."
Listen for God’s Voice
Lord, we ask that you would give us a desire to learn and grow in our relationship with you, so that we may become more like Christ in all that we do. Help us to rely on your strength and guidance as we seek to follow your will and live out your purposes for our lives.
We pray that you would be glorified in us, both now and forevermore. May your grace and love shine through us to those around us, as we seek to share the good news of Jesus with others.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
Peter is believed to have written this letter to the early Christian communities in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) around AD 64-65. It was written to the Gentile believers of Jesus Christ who came to faith through the ministry of the Apostles.
Study and Savor – Key Words
"Grow" - This word emphasizes the importance of ongoing spiritual development and maturity. As believers, we are called to continually seek to deepen our understanding of God's grace and to become more like Jesus Christ in our attitudes and actions.
"Grace" - This refers to the unmerited favor and love that God shows to us through Jesus Christ. It is through God's grace that we are saved, and it is by growing in our understanding of His grace that we can become more like Him.
"Knowledge" - This word refers to a deep and intimate understanding of God and His ways. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we come to know Him more fully and to appreciate His grace and love all the more.
"Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - This phrase reminds us of the centrality of Jesus Christ in our faith. He is not only our Lord, but also our Savior, who has saved us from our sins and given us new life in Him.
Summarize and Share
What a great reminder of the importance of continual growth and maturity in our faith. As we face the challenges and struggles of our daily lives, it can be easy to become complacent or stagnant in our relationship with God. However, Peter encourages us to keep pressing forward, to keep seeking after God and to keep growing in our knowledge of Him.
In today's world, we face many challenges that can hinder our spiritual growth. We are bombarded with messages of self-indulgence and instant gratification, and it can be difficult to resist these temptations and to focus on the things that truly matter. We may also face external pressures and opposition as we seek to live out our faith in a world that is often hostile to Christian values.
However, in the midst of these struggles, we can find hope and strength in the words of 2 Peter 3:18. We are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and this growth is not something that we do on our own. Rather, it is through the power of the Holy Spirit and our relationship with Christ that we are able to grow and mature in our faith.
As we seek to apply this scripture to our lives today, we are called to take action. We must make a conscious effort to prioritize our relationship with God, to spend time in prayer and Bible study, and to seek out opportunities for fellowship and growth with other believers. We must also be willing to resist the temptations of the world and to stand firm in our faith, even when it is difficult.
Ultimately, the call to action is to embrace the ongoing process of spiritual growth and maturity. We must be intentional about seeking after God and allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. As we do so, we will experience the fullness of His grace and love, and we will become more like Christ in all that we do.
Bible Cross Reference
Colossians 1:10 - "so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God," In this verse, Paul also encourages believers to grow in their knowledge of God, as a way of living a life that is pleasing to Him.
Ephesians 4:15 - "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." This verse emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity and growth, as we seek to become more like Christ in every respect.
Hebrews 5:12-14 - "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." This passage underscores the importance of spiritual growth and maturity, and the need for believers to move beyond the basics of the faith and to embrace deeper truths and teachings.
Philippians 3:12-14 - "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." In this passage, Paul emphasizes the importance of pressing forward in our faith, and striving to become more like Christ, as we continue to grow and mature in our relationship with Him.