Growing in grace

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. -  2 Peter 3:18

When Peter came to the end of the second book that bears his name, he gave some practical advice. “Be on your guard...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” That was the advice of a fisherman who knew that he had to defend his fishing grounds, yet he couldn’t spend all of his time keeping others out of what he felt belonged to him.

Some folks spend so much time guarding things, they never have time to grow anything. How do you know that you are growing in grace as opposed to just getting on with your life? Growth in grace is reflected in the following:

You accept circumstances, understanding that God can bring order out of chaos. No, it doesn’t mean you like these circumstances but you refuse to fight fire with fire, preferring to let God deal with some issues.

You come to understand that God is sufficient to meet your needs. You will never test the resources and grace of God unless you hit the bottom. “My grace is sufficient for you,” God told Paul.

You cultivate a voice of praise instead of profaning the circumstances. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

You have a desire to do the will of God, no matter what others do. When you say, “Lord, I put this in Your hands; You deal with it,” you are growing in God’s grace.

Finally, growth in grace is characterized by a willingness to wait on the Lord, knowing that His timetable is different from yours.