Today’s Scripture References
2 Peter 17-18 “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
4 Points to Remember
1. God loves you: you are His beloved.
2. God has expectations from you: to be faithful and obedient to Him.
3. God warns you: there are wicked people in this world, and they desire to lead you astray to disobey Him.
4. God has a goal for your life: to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As you ponder on today’s scripture, really think about how God loves you and expects you to respond to His lovingkindness towards you. Think about the warning He gives you and how you can respond to those who may cross your path to mislead you. Think about your spiritual growth so far this year. How much spiritual growth have you experienced? Has God seen you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ?
Measure Your Spiritual Growth
It is important to measure your spiritual growth against a standard or plumb line. How do you measure your spiritual growth? By studying and applying the Word of God to your life. This is the standard, the plumb line that will help you stay in alignment. The more aligned you are with the Word of God, the less effort it takes to respond to God’s love with faith and obedience. The less effort it will take to spot the wicked ones who intend to mislead you. The less effort it will take to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.
Here are 5 verses to start using today as a standard to measure your spiritual growth.
Fruitfulness – John 15:2 “ Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”;
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Increase – 2 Corinthians 9:10 “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”
Addition – 2 Peter 1:5-10 Fruitful Growth in the Faith – “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;”
Growth – 1 Peter 2:1-2 Our Inheritance Through Christ’s Blood – “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 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.”
Building up – Jude 20 Maintain Your Life with God – “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.