Growing

 June 3, 2022

How do we measure our knowledge of God? What is the test that lets us know we really know him? Fortunately, Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:5-8.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” —II Peter 1:5-8 NKJV

Notice verse 8: “If these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Peter doesn’t leave much wiggle room here. A fruitful knowledge of Jesus is guaranteed if we meet the conditions aforementioned. What are the things we need to have in abundance? 

He tells us: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. According to Peter, it requires diligence to obtain these; we must unceasingly work at them, but in doing so, we are assured of a knowledge that actually makes a difference. It’s not a mere head knowledge or an academic exercise; it bears fruit in our lives. No matter how wonderful I may feel about Jesus, without these characteristics, there is no genuine knowledge of Christ, only a deceptive lie.

Two of the required characteristics are self-control and perseverance. They are like twins, and is often where I have gotten stuck, especially when it comes to prayer. If I want to know Christ, I must exercise self-control, refusing to let lesser things distract me, and then to persevere in prayer. I cannot claim to know Jesus apart from persevering prayer. It’s exactly what Paul commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:17—“Pray without ceasing.” It’s a learning process; hopefully, one never stops growing in grace and in spiritual disciplines. I’m nearly 73, and have been following Jesus since I was twelve. I’m still learning, still growing. Lord willing, I’ll never stop.