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! (2 Peter 3:17, 18 MSG)
Something I realize is that GROWING HURTS at times. I have several teenage boys who are growing like weeds, at times they complain of growing pains. Our ministry has also experienced growing pains - but if there is no growth that means that we are stagnet and that is not a place I would like to be.
How do we know if we are growing in grace?
Jesus Calling was talking about our relationships - when faced with a hurtful situation we should desire to show quick grace, love and forgiveness rather than offense.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. (1 Corinthians 13:3-7 MSG)
I also think about the Fruits of the Spirit...Matthew 7:20 says, " You will know them by their fruit."
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (Galatians 5:22, 23 MSG)
It is my desire to bear much fruit - especially with my children - all my children - this is not always easy but so important - they need to see these things lived out in front of them.
For example patience - lastnight I sat at the dinning room table with my sons helping them with their homework. JJ was working on the same sentence for 30 minutes. I was seriously frustrated with him...I'm sure he could sense it as frustration is not an easy emotion for me to hide. At that moment I wish I had been able to express grace and patience with him.
I believe that God uses situations like that to grow us - if only we will allow him to.
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 MSG)
Growing in grace and bearing the fruits of spirit is so important for every believer. I believe that we never "arrive" but we are constantly growing (or staying stagnet in our faith which leads to legalism) and really the only way we can grow is to look to Jesus for his help - spending time with him and allowing him to grow us in his grace.
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