2 PETER 3:18 – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Growing in Christ. This appetite for growth is defined in the Apostle Peter’s first letter – Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord(1 Peter 2:1-3). However, this hunger and appetite must include the necessary spiritual discipline to satisfy them. The well-rounded and growing Christian commits to, maintains, and safeguards five spiritual disciplines to meet his or her desire for growth.
First, unhurried time in God’s Word for reading and studying – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Make this a daily priority. Jesus told the devil, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The food of the Word is as necessary for our spiritual health as physical food is for our bodies.
The second discipline is a robust prayer life that deepens affection and desire for God – pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Obviously, the Apostle Paul is not referring to us kneeling all day in prayer. The idea is to be in prayer as a way of life as we do life. And since prayer is communion with God, to neglect prayer is to neglect fellowship with God. Prayer is the language of love and must be cultivated for spiritual growth.
A third discipline is fellowship with other Christians in spiritual matters. The early church is our example – Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:43-47). Becoming a Christian is individual. Growing as Christians is not. We need the fellowship of other believers for mutual encouragement, edification, instruction, and correction.
The fourth discipline is meditation on God’s truth. Meditation is not study or reading. It includes these but at the end, it is “chewing over” scripture with our minds, hearts, and wills. Meditation takes the Word deep into our lives that is transformational. A good text describing the fruit of meditation is in the letter to the Colossians – Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16).
Our fifth necessary discipline for spiritual growth is self-examination. Here is where we spend time with open hearts and open Bibles to be completely honest with God’s searching Spirit. The Apostle Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to this practice – Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5). May the Lord teach us these necessary essentials for spiritual growth.
PRAYER: “Lord, teach me how to walk in Your Spirit and grow in the grace and knowledge of You.”
QUOTE: “Without spiritual discipline, there will be no spiritual growth.”