2nd Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage of scripture teaches us that we are never to remain stagnant in Christian growth, but instead are to move on from strength to strength through the grace accorded us through the merits and power of Jesus Christ. The Christian life is a movement in progress, and every day fresh opportunities for growth in grace are afforded us. These opportunities often come in the form of interactions with our fellowmen, and the experiences we go through on a personal and public level. As a matter of fact, the bulk of our growth does not take place during the Sabbath hours, for those moments are periods of rest, according to the commandment.
But when we take up our duties in the hustle and bustle of everyday living, then is when the principles and truths we have learned are synthesized in our literal experiences, and through this method the laws and instructions of God are brought to bear directly on everything that we do, think, or say. For instance, if there is a need to grow in the area of patience, the Lord will permit certain circumstances to come our way in which that specific virtue should be exercised. Case in point is Peter, when on one occasion he was accosted by the pharisees and asked whether Jesus paid the temple tax. Being grieved, he answered very hastily, and in the process uttered a falsehood that he never intended to say. Let's read:
Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
Now, this episode of hasty speech could have been avoided if the Biblical principles, laws, and instructions on this very point, were interfaced with Peter's experience. This is not to mean that he should have thought about it first, but rather that the constant communion with God which should have been taking place throughout the day, would have kept him from replying hastily, and thereby committing inadvertent sin. Hence the reason why the Bible states that the work of the Holy spirit is not merely to remind us of right principles, but rather to etch them indelibly in our hearts and minds, so that they may find expression naturally, and in Peter's case, would have kept him from speaking and answering in a hasty manner. Let's read:
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
In our day and in our own experiences, we will find many opportunities for spiritual growth, and instead of indulging the "Why me" syndrome, let us therefore use all of life's experiences as learning and growing curves, by which the laws and principles of God's kingdom can find true and practical exercise. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to grow in grace, by beholding the purity and perfection of Jesus Christ, for if we do we will never become unfruitful or barren in spiritual or temporal things. Let's read:
2nd Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also" .... "fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!