Message summary: God calls us to grow! At times spiritual growth is rapid, while at other times it's very slow and practically indiscernible. But growth, stability and faithfulness over the long term are what really matters. Let us stay faithful as we, step by step, walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Indeed, let us never stop growing!

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"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2). "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).

For many years Brooksyne has enjoyed growing plants and vegetables. Her early memories were not the most pleasant, a very large vegetable garden (one summer it was one full acre) on the often scorched soil in Oklahoma which required lots of labor on very hot and humid summer days. It was not a pleasurable experience but necessary for their family of seven whose sustenance came from the vegetables and fruit grown from that garden!

Now she grows plants for pleasure. We have a few tomato and pepper plants as well as herbs but most of her effort is placed in flowers and the pleasure attained by watching them grow and blossom. We get most of our fresh locally grown vegetables for a reasonable price at the many farm stands along the country roads we travel.

A key component of growth is fertilization and she often uses Miracle-Gro, a well known plant supplement. That's something we would like to find for our spiritual growth. Imagine if there was a single Miracle-Gro pill you could take daily that would take care of your spiritual growth needs!

God has ordained that living things grow and that's true of our living relationship with our living Savior as well. But growth can be messy requiring attention, maintenance and pruning (ouch).

Growth in the transforming grace and infinite knowledge of Christ is a lifelong process. It begins the moment we believe and continues till we rise to meet Him on the other side.

Healthy living means growing. God's Word tells us that we should continue to grow in our faith. In Peter's first epistle he uses this illustration: "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2). What a timeless, cross cultural illustration. Healthy babies have healthy appetites.

Peter ended his final epistle with a powerful challenge for his initial readers and through the Scripture to all of us: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". The word translated "grow" means to enlarge or increase. It's in the present, active, and imperative, which means this call to growth is ongoing, non-optional and we have an active part in it.

It was a challenge to his initial readers and now we apply it to our spiritual growth. This verse was modeled by the Lord Jesus Christ, "And the Child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52).

Today we encourage you to continue to grow in your faith as you dutifully carry out the spiritual exercises that nurture your spirit; Bible reading and study, prayer, fellowship with other believers, Christian service, witnessing for Christ, standing up for Biblical truth, enduring hardship and overcoming trials, etc. And, painful as it is, we also grow through our trials and mistakes – if we've learned the lesson that will keep us from repeating them. These are God's ordained Miracle-Gro components for spiritual growth!

At times your spiritual growth is rapid, while at other times it's very slow and practically indiscernible. But growth, stability and faithfulness over the long term are what really matters. Let us stay faithful as we, step by step, walk in the footsteps of Jesus! Indeed, let us never stop growing!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, we want to grow in the grace and knowledge imparted to us through the teachings of Jesus and Your faithful servants inspired and led by the Holy Spirit. We know this involves much more than simply reading the Scriptures, but it includes meditating and memorizing principles and portions of the inspired text and personally applying them to our lives. It includes saying "no to ungodliness and worldly passions and living self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." As our world continues the slide into decadence and self-indulgence, it means that we, with great intention, set our heart's desires on that which is pure and holy so that we continue to grow in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.

"I Asked the Lord that I Might Grow"  Watch on YouTube  Sovereign Grace Music  (A poem put to music written by John Newton who is most famous for his song "Amazing Grace")  Incredibly thoughtful lyrics!

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and ev’ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour
At once He’d answer my request
And, by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.

Yea, more with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Humbled my heart and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried;
“Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

“These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”