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This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace.” A few days ago we started walking our way through 5-9 of Peter’s second letter. The Apostle Peter wrote, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG).
We are more than half way through this passage. We already look a close look at the qualities the Apostle Peter told us to add to our faith. Today we will focus on the following statement, “With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Don’t waste time. The Apostle Peter urges us to live life in such a way that “no grass will grow under our feet.” To let grass grow under your feet means that you are wasting time, you are remaining idle, and you have become unproductive. Time is your most valuable resource. Once it’s gone you can never get it back. So make the most of the time you have been given.
2. Don’t stay the same. It is a curse to say to someone, “May you always remain the same” or “May you always be as you are today.” No matter how happy a person is today, it is not the will of God for them to remain that way for the rest of their lives.
3. Commit to a life of continual growth and development. The Apostle Peter tells us that the qualities of God must be “active and growing” in our lives. If you are actively pursuing growth in the areas Peter describes (good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love), you will develop into the person God desires you to be. Growth in Christ does not happen overnight, but it does happen as you commit to walking with God for the long haul.
4. You cannot grow without changing. If the goal is growth and development, then get ready for change. You can’t grow without changing and you must be mentally and spiritually prepared for it. Some people foolishly think they can change without actually changing. A change is a not a change until you change.
5. Get comfortable with a certain level of discomfort. To grow and develop into the person God wants you to be, the Lord will need to lead you out of your comfort zone. It is uncomfortable at first, but get used to it, because the Holy Spirit will not allow you to remain comfortable for long. If you allow yourself to be led of the Spirit, He will always lead you beyond where you are, in order to experience God’s best for your life. So get comfortable with a certain level of discomfort, because it takes discomfort to grow.
6. Life in Christ is only boring for those who are not doing anything. I hear people foolishly say, “Oh, being a Christian is boring.” That just means they are not doing anything. If you DID half of what you heard the Lord tell you — through your Pastor, the Holy Spirit, or as you read the Word — you would certainly not be bored. Life in Christ is exciting because God is a God of progression and He will lead you to grow, develop and progress in Him daily. So, if you feel bored, it is an indication that you are NOT DOING anything. Get off your butt and DO what God is leading you to DO and you will never be bored another day in your life!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for leading, guiding and directing me towards continual growth and develop. No grass will ever grow under my feet. I am not idle today, nor will I ever be. I am committed to becoming the person You called me to be and I shall make the impact in this world I was born to make. I refuse to die with my best still inside of me. I will get OUT of me everything You put in me before I die. To grow and develop I know I need to change. To become the person I am called to be, I know I will need to get out of my comfort zone. I am okay with it. I have mentally and spiritually prepared myself for a life of continual change. I am comfortable with a certain level of discomfort, because my desire to maximize my purpose and potential is greater than the comfort of where I am right now. So lead me Father and I will be led. Feed me Father and I will be fed. Whatever You tell me to do, I will DO it. Not just talk about it, but DO it. Not just prepare for it, but DO it. I am a DOER of the Word of God and I am blessed in my doing. I am thankful for where I am today. I know You love me just the way I am. But I also know You love me too much to leave me that way. Therefore I declare, that everyday I get incrementally closer to Your expected end for my life because I am committed to growth daily. And as I live this way I get to experience a life that is exciting, amazing and far beyond my childhood dreams! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
