DAY 21
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The first thing to say is that growing in Christ is not something we can produce. We are, no doubt, involved in the process, but God is the provider. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth,” Paul says, “so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). Growing in holiness of mind, heart, and life — and walking increasingly in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) — does not make us the object of praise, but God. He gives the growth. He is the great supplier behind and in whatever actions we take as means of his grace. Growing in grace isn’t something we can calculate and produce. It’s not ultimately in our court. There are actions we take, and must take — habits of mind and heart and life to cultivate — but in the end, we are powerless. Growing in Christ is not something we make happen by making it our focus in life. It’s not something we feel and experience in the moment. We’re typically not aware of it as it is happening, but only later look back and say, “Wow, look what God did. He gave the growth.” He grows his kingdom in like manner. “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He
sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how” (Mark 4:26–27). Yes, we scatter seed. But we’re powerless to make it grow. God gives the growth.
To grow in Christ, we don’t set out to grow; we set out to taste his goodness. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2–3). Just as God alone is the giver of growth for individuals and his kingdom, so Christ alone is the focal point for both individuals and his church. How does the whole body grow? By “holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). Jesus is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18); she only grows as she holds fast to him (see also Ephesians 4:15–16).
As we end the fast today let us continue to have a appetite to taste and see that the Lord is good and keep growing through the power of the Holy Spirit.
sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how” (Mark 4:26–27). Yes, we scatter seed. But we’re powerless to make it grow. God gives the growth.
To grow in Christ, we don’t set out to grow; we set out to taste his goodness. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation — if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:2–3). Just as God alone is the giver of growth for individuals and his kingdom, so Christ alone is the focal point for both individuals and his church. How does the whole body grow? By “holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19). Jesus is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18); she only grows as she holds fast to him (see also Ephesians 4:15–16).
As we end the fast today let us continue to have a appetite to taste and see that the Lord is good and keep growing through the power of the Holy Spirit.