Growing in Faith

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

God graciously gives us faith to believe in Jesus. And we want to keep going forward in faith and not become stagnant or slide backward.

But we have this assurance in God’s Word: just as believing faith in Jesus comes to us as a gracious gift from God through the Holy Spirit, growing in faith also comes to us through God’s grace and the Spirit’s work.

Now, we can’t make ourselves grow spiritually, but that doesn’t mean we are totally passive ­either. Somehow we participate with the Holy Spirit in growing spiritually. 

In today’s verses, Peter urges his readers and us to make every effort to grow. The Spirit works in us to cultivate our faith when we listen to God’s Word, through meditating on it and hearing it proclaimed in times of worship. The Spirit works in our hearts when we turn to our Lord and Savior in prayer for our needs and for the needs of our world. The Spirit also constantly works in us to respond to opportunities to show God’s love and share our faith with others.

Encouragement to grow in faith can’t be said any better than the Spirit has put it through Peter: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!”

Source: TODAY  October 26, 2017 – Kurt Selles

Prayer

Holy Savior Jesus Spirit, we praise and thank you for your gift of grace. Please continue to soften our hearts and mold our wills to serve and glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.