Verse of the Day 9/15

Verse of the Day 9/15

2 Peter 3:18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered in Philippians 4:19 how God will supply every need according to the riches of His grace and how that should help us rid ourselves of anxiety.  We are to be overcomers, not be overcome.  We also considered how we are to trust God, that He is with us and will strengthen and uphold us.   John Piper wrote of God's "future grace" and how it will be hard for anxiety to survive in the person who has it.

In today's verse the Apostle offers a benediction for us, a call for us to grow in grace.  Trusting in God's future grace will involve and require growing in grace.  Our lives are a "Pilgrim's Progress" trusting in God's grace, onward and upward.  There will be ups and downs in our lives, but the overall trajectory is up.

Of this growing in grace, I read the following from J.C. Ryle in a devotional yesterday regarding this growing in grace, he writes:

When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
  his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
  his faith is becoming stronger,
  his hope is becoming brighter,
  his love is becoming more extensive, and
  his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked.

Looking back over the past weeks, months and years, can we say that of ourselves and our faith?  If so, praise Him, if not, seek Him, trust Him and grow in Him from today forward.

Thinking of that hope becoming brighter I'm reminded and will close with the third stanza of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and His future grace.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! "Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"   Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—     "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

2 Peter 3:15-18The Message (MSG)

^14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

^17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!