2nd Peter 3:18, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. A-men."

Some of the last recorded words we have from Peter. Like anyone who knows their time left is short, Peter shares what God has laid upon him in this time, and in this last epistle in scripture, bearing his name. I know that every word of scripture is useful, God-breathed, for us. But some of the writings I hold dear, are of those that were among the last, of these as they wrote and shared them. These that God had chosen and sent, and inspired to write what we have as scripture.

"Grow in grace". The simple meaning for grow is just that, to grow, increase. Jesus uses the same word when He tells us to consider the lilies, how they grow, in Matt. 6:28 and Luke 12:27. Considering the entire context of Peters epistle, we know that he speaks of growing in grace, through the knowledge of God, and of Christ Jesus, 2nd Pet. 1:1-15.

Take the witness we have of those chosen as the Lord's apostles, who had both seen, and had been personally instructed by Jesus Christ. We have that preserved now for almost two thousand years, of what Jesus Christ taught, and did, and also the epistles of His apostles. Many through the centuries have attempted to deviate from their writings and teachings, and many of those teachings are still among us, as the tares, and as the leaven, among those naming the name of Jesus Christ.

But we are instructed to heed their teachings, and to GROW in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We do these things for HIS glory. "Glory" is what we honor, praise, worship. We give "weight to" what we glory in. That is shown not finally by what we say, but by how we live and breath, day in and day out, it is a lifestyle, not just something we do at church, or just on occasion.

We have become a 'cheap grace' society, today, in regards to grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If any generation would be termed as giving 'license to sin', and 'licentious', it would surely be this one. Not one, single, qualification of a pastor, or bishop, or elder, would include one who practices a same-sex relationship, in the scripture, and yet many have taken that license with it, and do exactly that.

Also, not one verse in scripture, would in any way bless such a relationship, scripture will do just the opposite, in warning. And yet many among the church, have also taken license here too. Many are removing crosses, as society is now offended by it, and also by God's wisdom and power, through the cross. So, the licentious remove. And, we dare call this 'growing' in grace?

The cross is central to everything, upon which our Lord Jesus Christ died, within christianity. A christian is called to their cross likewise, with their life, and therein is the offense, in the world-loving church today. If one truly wants to "grow" in grace, they will only do so, by picking up and carrying their own cross, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no other way, really and truly. "To Him be glory both now and forever". Be diligent to be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Don't be found deceived, or ashamed, at His glorious appearing. A-men.

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