Growing In Grace

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.”  (II Peter 3:18)

This glorious Lord of ours wants us to grow in grace as we grow in knowledge of Him and of His ways.  If He wants us to do that, how do we know when we are growing in grace?  What if we are actually going backwards and becoming graceless at certain stages of our lives?  How can we tell if that is happening?  How can we be sure, at any given point in time, that we are growing towards Him in grace?

Is it possible to find out God’s ways, through the Scriptures, and to live them, and thus to live what we could term “grace-filled lives”?  I believe we can.  First because we are commanded to grow in grace, but also because Christ told us, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).

Abundant life, by God’s definition, does not consist in an abundance of possessions, although those of us in the U.S. must admit we have more possessions than any other race of people has possessed in the entire history of the world.  God’s definition of abundant life is shown throughout the Scriptures to be life lived in relationship with God Himself, becoming more and more like His Son Jesus Christ.

By that definition, we can see that grace-filled living would be synonymous with being crazily in love with a God who adores us beyond all comprehension.  A God Who counted it a worthwhile exchange to give the life of His Beloved Son in order to redeem us back from eternal death and Hell.  A God Who did that for all the human beings He created, if they will just receive it!

When we are crazily in love with this God of ours and with those others He has created and for whom He has died, I believe we are on the verge of discovering grace-filled living!