Growing Up

Re:Verse passage – 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18 (day three)

18 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)

I have had the privilege to be at this church long enough to watch several grades of children grow from preschoolers and graduate from high school. It has been a joy to watch! I am always a little shocked when I see the senior grade come through, and I am reminded of how quickly the kids grow up. But growth is expected! It is what God made us to do. My hope and prayer for all the kids that come through or “graduate” out of our Kids’ Ministry is that they grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man, just as Jesus did (Luke 2:52).

Peter closes out his letter with this perfectly summed up line. Through his whole letter, he tells readers to be on guard and to be ready for Jesus’ return. Then he sums it all up with verse 18 where he implored everyone to keep growing in their faith. We are not meant to become followers of Christ and then plateau in our knowledge and understanding of the love of God. Growth in Christ is expected. It is what God commands us to do. Discipleship helps us in this. We are reminded of the importance of good, sound discipleship throughout the Bible. As I teach kids, I try to help them understand that we can be disciples of anyone or anything, and that not all things help us grow up in our relationship with the Lord. We either grow in the Lord or grow in something else. May they grow in Christ and not follow another!

Is your relationship with Him today different than it was last year? Have you “grown up” in your relationship with Him? Is there someone else that you are helping “grow up” in their relationship with the Lord?