Growing in the Lord
What we should do/add/learn/build in our lives to grow in the Lord?
2 Peter 1:5-7 Make every effort to add to your Faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
These are the step-by-step things which we need to add to our life to get matured in the Lord.
- Faith – it’s the 1st step of a Christian life. We are saved by having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are healed by faith. Faith is the central/base quality of a Christian life.
2. Goodness – we will need to add goodness to faith for growth. To be good and do good and do right. We will have to do “Good works”. As per Matthew 25:40-45, we will have to help the poor and needy.
3. Knowledge – Then we should add the knowledge of God and his word to our Faith and Goodness. We should learn his ways, times, plans, purposes, steps, etc. We should understand his will, prophecies and learn to interpret them.
4. Self-control – Then learn not to go back to our past sins. Learn to self-discipline and self-control of our thoughts, plans, actions, habits, etc. Learn to do good and avoid evil. No-body has to come and tell to do good, instead it should come from our own/self.
5. Perseverance – If we try something and it didn’t work, we need to try again and again until it works. For example, Thomas Alva Edison failed 1000 times before inventing the Electric bulb. Even in the ministry, if we see failures, we will need to persevere and get it done without getting upset/irritated. Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be discouraged, for the Lord will be with you.
6. Godliness – Then add to our life Godliness. Learn to depend on God for everything in our life. Grow in worship, have personal relationship with God. Reading and meditating the word of God. Sharing Gospel, conduct troop churches, etc.
7. Brotherly kindness – Grow to the stage we become like Good-Samaritans. Show kindness and help those who are in need.
8. Love – The greatest commandments we receive from the Lord is Love the Lord and Love your neighbour. 1 Corinthians 13 – Love is patient, kind, not easily angered, protects, trusts and never fails. Love is greatest of every attribute we possess. Love is the last stage in becoming a matured son of God. Bible says in 2 Peter 1:9 Whoever does not have them is short-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. In my personal life, I’m trying to build/learn all these attributes to become a matured son of God.
Prayer:
Our father in heaven, please help all of us to learn/grow in all these attributes to become your sons and daughters. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.
Sol.Theodore Mohanty