“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
Plant growth is a natural process in the sense that the plant has all the necessary information and structure that promotes growth. Where does the plant get the information from? When God created the plant, He placed in its structure the growth information.
“Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how” (Mark 4:27).
Today, we know that each living organism has a “genetic code” – information that “describes” the plant. Each seed contains the growth information…which in turn is passed on to the next seeds.
We, as Christians, are children of God, ”…children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13). God placed in us the “spiritual growth information” so that we may grow to become “mature” children of God.
The indwelling Spirit of God is a transforming spirit…giving us all we need to grow spiritually. The heart of God’s Spirit is to help us grow into the fullness of Christ. He comes with gifts and fruits “…until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Yet the New Testament writers encourage us to grow. Peter, the apostle, ends his letter by these words, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).
We can “force” our growth, but we can place ourselves in the right environment and “feed” ourselves with growth promoting nutrients.
To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” means to grow spiritually – to become “grown-ups” in likeness of Him.
That way, His name will be exalted and glorified. Grow up!