April 12th | Grow in Your Christian Faith
A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PETER’S SECOND LETTER
GROW IN YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
Yesterday’s devotion warned you against following new religions, new beliefs, and new gods. Today’s devotion encourages you, like a hymn verse says, anchor your life and your eternity upon Christ. The hymn verse says, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” (LSB 575)
This hymn has in mind the words of Jesus found in His sermon on the mount, “ . . . everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25) That rock is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4)
St. Paul, like Peter, urges you to focus your life and heart on God’s underserved love for you (Grace.) He does this because you “ . . . are justified [declared by God to be without sin] freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:24-25) These two verses point you to Good Friday, Calvary, and Jesus’ death on the cross in payment for your sins. This occurred because of the unconditional, complete love of God for you and His desire that your sins be forgiven, and you have a place in heaven reserved for you.
This is God’s good news to you! Peter’s word’s today are about how God, through His grace causes you to grow in the knowledge of what Jesus did for you through becoming a human being, living the perfect life as your substitute, the perfect life you were unable to live on your own. Because of God’s love for you and gift of faith in Jesus He credits Jesus’ death on Good Friday as complete and full payment for your sins. And, Jesus’ Easter resurrection insures your resurrection into heaven itself.
To God be the glory now and forever. This is due Him because of what He has done for you through His Son, the power of His Word, the work of His Holy Spirit, and to adopt you as His daughter or son.
Prayer: Thanks be to You, heavenly Father for Your grace and gift of faith in Your Son Jesus. Amen.
O Savior, precious Savior, Whom yet unseen we love; O name of might and favor, All other names above, We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing; We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our holy Lord and King.
O bringer of salvation, Who wondrously hast wrought Thyself the revelation Of love beyond our thought, We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing; We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our gracious Lord and King.
In Thee all fullness dwelleth, All grace and pow’r divine; The glory that excelleth, O Son of God, is Thine. We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing; We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our glorious Lord and King.
O grant the consummation Of this our song above In endless adoration And everlasting love; Then shall we praise and bless Thee Where perfect praises ring, And evermore confess Thee, Our Savior and our King!
(LSB 527)