This postcard picture home is on Breneman Road in southern Lancaster County.
We noticed a “For Sale” sign for anyone who may be interested!
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“Never Stop Growing”
Throughout this spring we have been making some maintenance and home improvements to our home. We’ve lived in our present home ten years now, the longest we have ever lived in one place and Brooksyne is in the process of updating the wall coverings. She (mostly) provides the labor but we have thus far been unable to find a way to make our own home-made paint!
So we spend a lot of time at Lowes (a large home improvement store). Both in the store and through ads we have become familiar with their present marketing slogan which states, “Never Stop Improving.” If you go into a Lowes store you can’t miss this slogan or the catchy jingle that goes with it. It’s a neat strategy for persistent and repeat business. It’s also a great slogan for us to apply spiritually.
Most of us have seen books with titles like “Windows for Dummies”. Someone sure has made a lot of money with this series and frankly I have several different copies. They usually have more than enough information for whatever it is I’m trying to learn about. I’m sure glad that some “Christian” marketer hasn’t picked up on the theme with a book called “Discipleship for Dummies”, although if there’s money to be made it wouldn’t surprise me! After all, we like any shortcuts we can take, and books like these sell fast.
But growth in the transforming grace and infinite knowledge of Christ is a lifelong process. It begins the moment we believe and continues till we go to be with the Lord. It’s not for dummies!
Healthy living means growing. God’s Word tells us that we should continue to grow in our faith. Peter completed his final epistle with a powerful challenge. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The word translated “grow” means to enlarge or increase. It’s in the present, active, and imperative, which means this call to growth is ongoing, non-optional and we have a part in it.
Today’s verse records the final written words of the Apostle Peter. It was a challenge to his initial readers and now we apply it to our spiritual growth. This verse seems to have been modeled by the Lord Jesus Christ, “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
Today let us encourage you to continue to grow in your faith as you dutifully carry out the spiritual exercises that nurture your spirit; Bible reading and study, prayer, fellowship with the other Christians, Christian service, witnessing for Christ, standing up for Biblical truth, enduring hardship and overcoming trials, etc. And, painful as it is, we also grow through our mistakes – if we’ve learned the lesson that will keep us from repeating them.
At times your spiritual growth is rapid, while at other times it’s very slow and practically indiscernible. But growth, stability and faithfulness over the long term are what really matters. Let us stay faithful as we, step by step, walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Indeed, let us never stop growing!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge imparted to us through the teachings of Jesus and Your faithful servants who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. We know this involves much more than simply reading the Scriptures, but it includes meditating and memorizing principles and portions of the inspired text. It includes saying “no to ungodliness and worldly passions and living self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” As our world continues the slide into decadence and self-indulgence, it means that we, with great intention, set our heart’s desires on that which is pure and holy so that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
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