Growing in the Lord
“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17-18
Have you ever seen a field of corn? When I lived out in the country a few years back, I took a walk one day after getting out of work early. Twilight had begun to set in, and I couldn’t help noticing how beautiful the surrounding cornstalks looked as they stood sharply against the blue and yellow sky.
Then I got to thinking: what if each cornstalk represented one of God’s children? I looked out at the vastness of the field and thought of how many people fill the whole earth. Yet God’s love reaches to us all. It can never be used up or washed away. God is our Providence, which means that He provides protective and spiritual care for us. The Lord God knows what we need.
How then should we respond? Matthew 6:33 tells us when it says, “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seek his kingdom first. This is how we grow in Christ: by putting Him first in everything.
Are you feeling particularly happy or overjoyed about something? Give Him thanks and praise! Feeling lost or down? Stop and take some time to pray. Come before the Father in earnest supplication. Humble yourself before God by acknowledging how great and mighty He is, and consequently how small you are in comparison. We don’t do this to make ourselves feel bad about how “insignificant” we are, but rather to point to the sovereignty of God and lead us to marveling in awe and reverence at His majesty.
After all, we have been created for him. Colossians 1:16 says, “ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” We won’t grow in the Lord if we don’t plant our roots where they belong. Then we can trust Him to water us with his love and grace, and the fruit we produce will be in Him and for His glory.