“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 3:18

Dearly beloved in Christ,

I greet you in the sweet name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Man wants to grow in every way and takes effort for that. They compare their performance during the last year with that in this year and see whether there is any growth in their business, trade, industry and in their bank accounts. In some families, children also gloat over their growth in stature. Some get delighted if their hair grows. These are the ways of the people of this world. But the Bible instructs us to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the knowledge of Him. When we grow in these things, we would grow spiritually and in godliness.

I. From Grace to Grace

“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17). As the grace came to this world through Jesus Christ, we are benefitted in more ways than one. As the Lord removed this grace from King Saul, he lost all his blessings. He trespassed his own decisions and made several wrong decisions. He had destroyed all the sorcerers and witches, but he began to seek the help of a diviner. Losing the grace, he met with failure and defeat at the hands of the enemy. In the battlefield, he fell on his own spear and killed himself. All his children also perished in the battle.

Why Do We Need Grace?

1. Not to Perish

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22

We are saved by the mercy of the Lord. We can see in our daily routines several people being saved from several disasters as they happen. It is the mercy shown to undeserving people called grace. This is new every day.

Once a person known to me visited the new porch that was being laid in the church. As he left the place only a few yards away, the beam fell but he escaped. This was the grace of God which protected him.

2. For Salvation

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8

Salvation is needed for all. It provides the entrance to the eternal Kingdom. It is given freely by the Lord. This salvation is not through our works, or efforts or holiness. Through faith by grace, we are saved. It is a free gift.

Some may have feelings of derision against themselves for what they have done, for deeds of sin. But the Lord God forsakes no one however great one’s sins may be. He is a God of steadfast love towards such people. Some of us might seek deliverance and the joy of salvation. They may agonizingly wait for it. It is by His grace that we are saved.

3. For Support

‘If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up.’ Psalm 94:18

Some fall in the bathrooms when taking bath and their bones get fractured. Some shed tears. But there are also cases where people escape without much hurt because of the grace of God which sustains them.

Once one Brother shared how he was saved from falling from staircase. He was an old man. The first floor was vacant. He went up to see the house. As he was climbing down, he fell down. But he somehow clung to the door handle and was calling for help. People came and helped him from falling. Grace held him.

We need it very much. We can enjoy it in our lives. As it abounds, we praise and thank Him more and more to the glory of the Lord. In effect “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 4:15). We praise and thank Him whenever we come together.

The Bible says, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” (Psalm 32:10). Mercy is extended to one who trusts the Lord. Whom do you trust? Do you trust your job, your strength or health? If you trust something or someone other than the Lord God, you would have to go through several struggles in life as grace leaves you. Let us trust the Lord Jesus Christ with all our heart. Grace will surround us.

Let us also have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Shepherd to lead us. Then we can say with David: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Psalm 23:6).

As we give place for this grace to abound in our daily lives, we would have peace and joy.

II GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

People are very much interested in knowing the things of this world. They spend a lot of time in news and their veracity. Some seek to know about astrology and its impact. But many do not search the scriptures and its impact on our lives. The Bible says, “and this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Seeking to know about the scriptures would lead to real blessings in life, spiritual as well as material.

1. Know the Truth

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

As you know the faithfulness of Jesus Christ and His Word, you will be delivered from the slavery of this world. Today you may be subjected to several evil habits and got so addicted to them that you feel it impossible to give them up. It may be drug abuses, drunkenness and debauchery and the like. It might even be indebtedness. The knowledge of Jesus Christ as redeemer and deliverer can lead you to deliverance. It is just simple faith in the truth.

2. Know the Name of God

“...I will set him on high, because he has known My name” Psalm 91:14

Paul states clearly, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The name Jesus Christ is above all other names. You should use this name. Jesus Christ said: “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24). You would have true joy in using His name. It is also said: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). There is authority in the name of Jesus Christ. Demons leave at the utterance of His name. You become an instrument in the hand of God through the use of His name.

3. Know His Voice

“And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 10:4

The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and respond to his guidance with full trust. If we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Shepherd, we should recognize His voice and obey it. When we are so guided, we will never go astray, but be righteous. To follow Him we must know and recognize His voice. Without knowing His voice, today many remain confused. Let us listen to His voice and obey the voice. We will be blessed.

4. Know His Love

“. . . know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

Paul prays for the Ephesian church that the believers should be enlightened to know the love of God. When we know the love of Christ, we will be moved to live for Him and to work for Him. Many have left their nations in their youth and lived in foreign lands doing great things for the Lord as missionaries. The love of the Lord Jesus Christ was greater than the love of their relatives. So, they sacrificed their lives for their redeemer. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul says, “For the love of Christ constraineth us.”

Only when I came to know of this great love, I gave up my job to live and work for the Lord. Those who have tasted this divine love will not look back to this world, but will be rooted in the love of Christ. They will get established in it and walk in it. The love that made Him give His very life on the cross for us would transform us to live for Him.

The Lord makes us grow in several aspects. He can do that. Jonah was sent by the Lord to warn the inhabitants of Nineveh about the impending destruction that would come upon them in forty days. He put up a tent outside the city to see its destruction. But nothing happened as the Lord saw the repentance and transformation in the lives of the people and did not do as He had promised. This upset Jonah and he yearned for death as the Lord did not fulfil his words. Then the Lord made a castor plant to grow over his head that night.

The same Lord who made the plant grow is still alive. The Lord God who made the Pharaoh pay the mother of Moses for bringing him up is still alive. He who makes the seeds of word fall on good ground to sprout and grow to yield 30, 60 and 100-fold is still alive. He can and will make several things grow in our lives too. For us to grow, what should we do?

III WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO GROW?

1. Be Delivered

“Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood —That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style.” Psalm 144:11-12

We live in the midst of people who are crooked and tactful. We want our children to grow up in their youth more than others. We give them all possible educational facilities beyond our means to make them great. When they grow up, we are delighted. We are delighted to speak about their achievements in the midst of others. Parents want their children to become as doctors, engineers and scientists; they want them to go abroad. There is so much of competition among parents and relatives. There are also people indulging in witchcraft against these children so that they may not achieve anything. They are driven by jealousy. Against all these traps, our children should survive or be delivered. Only then can they excel and attain greatness.

2. Fear the Name of the Lord

“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.” Malachi 4:2

We should live with the fear of the Lord. The Lord blesses those who live with the fear of the Lord. As we fear and walk in His ways, we become blessed. We enjoy the fruits of all our efforts. Today many are not able to enjoy what they earn. Their earnings disappear mysteriously. They need the fear of the Lord in their lives. Then the Sun of Righteousness would rise upon them. The Sun created by the Lord God is the source of Vitamin D and other things that have a telling effect on the health of mankind. The Creator of the Universe is said to be the Sun of Righteousness. There is said to be healing under His wings. Those who fear Him will go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

3. Desire the Word of God

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

The word of God is said to be uncorrupted and pure. It is life and spirit. When we search them, we become good-natured or divine natured. If we desire it, we have peace. If we meditate upon them, we become successful and prosperous. How do you receive these words? We should not be merely hearers, but doers. All the promises given are true and are fulfilled in our lives. They foretell the benefits that come from the presence of the Lord. They are comforting. At times we are sore and downcast, they comfort and infuse strength in us. They guide us in difficult circumstances.

The Lord sends His words and heals us. When I was in the Intensive Care unit, the word of the Lord established me and strengthened me. As I was broken-hearted and depressed with no hope, having been haunted by death, I thought about the plight of my family. Then the word of the Lord came and strengthened me. It said: “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:10). I was comforted and encouraged. It gave me new life and hope. It lifted me from the pit of destruction.

These living words are words of righteousness that can guide us in the right way. The words of God who calls into existence from nothing can prosper the descendants. Let us give time for meditating on these words as they are words of counsel and peace. Exalted are the blessings that come from it. Let us desire the word and honour it.

4. Thirst for the Holy Spirit

“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring; They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.” Isaiah 44:3-4

Thirst for the Lord would lead to blessings of the descendants. With what is our heart filled today? If it is filled with thoughts of Christ, praise and prayer would fill our hearts. The words of the Lord will get imprinted on our hearts. As we are excited about His power and His presence, we would begin to talk about them. We would meditate upon it.

Today we seek wealth for our posterity. We amass wealth and properties for each of our children. More than these if we have real thirst and desire for His word, He would bring about greater blessings than what we think.

The wealth of this world would spoil the love and fellowship among children. If we seek the presence of the Lord and desire His blessings, there would be greater love, affection, and support and help among them.

5. Be Righteous

“The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Psalm 92:12

Today we seek to be righteous in what we do. It is the righteousness of God. There are some persons who speak about righteousness in the lives of others, but when it comes to their family they are different. They are quite unrighteous. How are we today in the sight of God?

Today we are made righteous through the salvation in Christ by grace. We are “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1). “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:9). We become righteous through the blood of Christ.

As we are transformed, our life is blessed with growth like that of the cedar tree, a strong tree. The Bible says that King Solomon “built the temple and finished it, and he paneled the temple with beams and boards of cedar” (1 Kings 6:9).

To make us righteous and blessed, Jesus Christ shed all His blood on the cross for all of us.

May the Lord bless us!

In the service of Christ Jesus,

Bro. C. Ebenezer Paul.