In Increasing Measure

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

Remember when you first were saved? Do you remember your eagerness to learn, grow, change, and serve?

I remember when my family first attended a church where the Bible was preached and the Gospel taught.  Everything I heard was new so I took copious notes.  I had a hard time keeping up with the pastor when he preached because to me, he seemed to be speaking so fast. I felt like I had to write down practically every word. Over time I was able to keep up because my knowledge and understanding grew.  That was more than 30 years ago.

Have you been a believer a while?  It doesn’t really matter how many years because the question behind my question is this: Are you still growing? Are you still changing?  Are you still learning?

The more we read and study the Bible the more we realize there is so much more to learn.  We never come to the end of a study knowing all there is to know about that book, that Bible character or that theme.  Until we are called to glory, we still have learning, growing and changing to do.  It isn’t just a knowledge of the Bible but an application of truth to our lives that leads to more and more growth and change.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

If we are not growing in Christ-likeness, we need to take a serious look at our life and ask some hard questions.  Why am I not growing?  What hinders my pursuit of Christ-likeness? In what ways do I exhibit spiritual laziness?  How can I possess the qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-8 in increasing measure?

May we not be content with the status quo but rather to press in to seek hard after Christ that we may learn and grow and change.  I want to be more like Jesus at the end of the day, how about you?

 

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5