LifeLink Devotions

Thursday, March 2, 2023

The Apostle Peter concludes his second epistle with this challenge to us: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) As we conclude our study of Second Peter it is good for us to accept Peter’s challenge.

As we mentioned yesterday, the world is declining into a fuller expression of depravity. Judgment is coming. Yet Jesus our Lord has not assigned us the task of delivering judgment. He has commissioned us to be ministers of grace. His grace. God’s unconditional offer of forgiveness to the vilest of sinners who believes on His Son Jesus.

Yet we prefer judgment. We prefer to point out the wrongs of others and demand justice. We prefer to alienate ourselves from those who have or who might hurt us.  We are no better than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who lived in their lofty towers of self-made righteousness and looked down on everyone who wasn’t like them. We have decided that unless people can measure up to our standards they cannot be included in our lives.

WE MUST GROW IN GRACE.

Our local churches would be radically different if Jesus followers would treat each other with grace. Our communities would be transformed if Jesus followers would treat citizens with grace. Our world would be turned upside down if they saw those who have the knowledge of God living out the grace of God. But our growth in knowledge has served only to increase our pride in what we know, when Jesus, who knows all things, expressed grace towards those who didn’t know.

WE MUST GROW IN GRACE.

Do not use your knowledge as a means of self-affirmation. Do not allow your knowledge to alienate you from those who do not know. Do not take pride in your doctrinal position, but rather let all knowledge of God lead you to the reality of grace, for even the knowledge you have is a gift of God’s grace. It Is not of your own doing. The grace of God opened your eyes to the knowledge of Jesus. The grace of God gave you understanding of the redemption of your soul through Jesus. The grace of God has given you all things for this life and for eternity.  May your life be a constant expression of God’s grace.

WE MUST GROW IN GRACE.

Pastor John