Growing in Our Faith

Every day that God keeps me here on earth is for a specific purpose. I need to remember that and start every day with that thought in mind before I hit the ground running, with my plans. It also helps for me to evaluate how I am using the resources that God has given me; my gifts, talents, time, health, etc. It doesn’t take a lot of research or deep Scripture studying to determine what God calls us to do. The Bible contains a lot of instruction on how to live as a child of God, but our purpose and mission is pretty simple and clear. We are to make disciples. Making disciples involves sharing the Gospel, leading people towards a saving faith in Jesus Christ and teaching them to do the same. 

We are bombarded by so many distractions each and every day which keeps us from doing this one thing that we are called to do. We allow social media, the pandemic (and people’s reaction to the guidelines given), politics, the economy, and the list goes on, to take us off of what we should be doing. It is difficult to ignore what goes on around us every day, unless we make a conscious effort and determine to do so, ahead of time. And as we get affected by “life around us", we need to remember that God didn’t have expiration dates, conditional terms or geographical boundaries on any of His instruction. When Jesus instructed His disciples (and us) to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to forgive, did He know about the situation that we find ourselves in today? I think you get the point. As we consider how we are doing, I would encourage you to reflect on what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:3-11.

His (Jesus Christ’s) divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness.

By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 

For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

It’s a sobering thought that we could be considered as useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And at the same time, with the knowledge of our position and standing with Jesus Christ why would we not have a desire to make every effort to live our lives as Peter is instructing. 

As this passage points out, we have no reason to do otherwise. God has given us everything required for life and godliness as He intended. He backs that up with great and precious promises, we get to share in His divine nature and it allows us to escape the corruption of this world. Following this keeps us from stumbling, and our entry into the kingdom of God will be richly provided. 

Let’s help one another live as God desires and bring glory to His name!

Pastor Bryan