“Growing in grace is a divine exchange of our desires becoming overcome by God’s desires.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 8, 2024
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
In our late 20s, my wife Rita and I moved to Atlanta with our three daughters, soon to be four. My responsibility as Minister of Discipleship at the church we served was support and oversight of a discipleship process called Growing in Grace. Growing in Grace I was for new believers in Jesus Christ, and Growing in Grace II was for more maturing believers. These environments facilitated by Spirit-filled leaders invited the Lord to do a work of grace through His Word and through the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal and apply transformational truth. It was so inspiring to see tender and teachable hearts grow in grace. God’s grace changed proud hearts to more humble hearts, hard hearts to more loving hearts, and burdened hearts were set free. We still have friends who, as leaders and students, were a part of this Growing in Grace experience.
So, what does it mean to grow in grace? Growing in grace begins when we are born into the family of God by grace through faith. Growth can only occur with the birth of life. When born into our life in Christ, we now have the privilege and divine directive to grow in grace, and our life in Christ becomes sweeter and more satisfying as our Christlikeness blossoms. Growing in grace is much more than following the moral teachings of Jesus Christ; it is a divine exchange of our desires becoming overcome by God’s desires. Growing in grace flows out of being with the Grace Giver, gazing into His eyes, and being captivated by His love for me, His beloved. It’s not so much my public acts of service that grow grace in my heart as my private devotion to listening to my Lord’s loving affirmations and caring commands. Growth in grace comes when the Holy Spirit toils and tills the soil of a heart, planting and nurturing seeds of humility and love. What grace is the Lord inviting you to experience? Say yes, and find joy in your simple obedience.
You may say, but doesn’t growing in grace take time? Becoming older does not guarantee growing in grace; any more than being younger prohibits growing in grace. The condition of your heart is the only limitation of experiencing growth in grace. It may be in big bursts of momentary inspiration and transformation that the sweet, loving Holy Spirit wants to move you forward in His power to be a believer full of grace and truth, not lacking anything. For a humble heart, the only limitation is the Lord’s will may constrain you, as He knows infinitely what’s best for you. When you first experienced the grace of God at salvation, your flame of faith burned brightly, but now, as you are growing in grace, the Holy Spirit is stoking the hot coals of your faith, burning orange and white to drape a blanket of warm love for all you draw close to your life in Christ. Your growth in grace inspires and loves others toward growing in grace with Christ.
Peter also reminds us that growing in grace comes from growing in our knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Sitting at the feet of our Lord to know Him and be known by Him—sweet! The more I know Him: His grace of forgiveness, His grace of mercy, His grace of generosity, the more I love Him and grow to be like Him: forgiving, merciful, and generous. How are you growing in grace? Have a plan. Be intentional. Be with other hungry hearts who desire to grow in grace. You grow more like your Beloved who loves you as you grow in grace.
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your boundless grace. I long to grow in it daily, reflecting Your love and patience to others. Teach me to walk humbly, to forgive freely, and to seek Your heart above all else. Shape me into a vessel of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
What habit are you developing to grow in grace?
Related Reading
2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:9-10; Titus 2:11-12
Worship Resource
Keith and Kristyn Getty: God of Every Grace
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