The need to grow

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18a

This article seeks to admonish you to grow in your faith. When a person receives Jesus Christ as in John 1:12-13 being "born of God" or in John 3:3 being "born again", s/he is like unto a baby needing milk. There are many Christians, who have been born again for quite some time, yet have not grown in their faith. We would think it strange if we saw babies coming out of the womb, aging, yet not growing at all. However, within the church, it seems almost commonplace. The problem is that these "malnourished babes" are not growing because they have not desired the sincere milk of the word as Peter wrote:

“as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby.”
I Peter 2:2

If we are to grow, we must desire the sincere milk of the word. Simply put:

new-born babe + milk = growth

In Ephesians, Paul writes that we are to no longer be children:

“that we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine...
but speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:”
Ephesians 4:14-15

There are four categories of Christians listed in the Scripture:

“I write unto you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
1 John 2:12

newborn babes (I Peter 2:2)
children and little children (I John 2:12)
young men (I John 2:12)
fathers (I John 2:12)

What is God's ultimate desire for us?

“For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:29

God's ultimate desire for us is to be conformed to the image of His Son. It will not happen in this lifetime, but He desires us to be growing towards that end while we are here on the earth.

How have you grown? What have you done with God's word?

Please visit Word Intake to study how you may learn to digest God's word, and start growing on to maturity.