Growing In The Lord (Part 3)

Yesterday we ended on godliness from the 2 Peter 1:6.  It brings new meaning to Colossians 3:17 which reads: Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through Him to God the Father.  This is godliness and a person possessing this characteristic will be full of love.  Open your bibles and read again 2 Peter 1:5-8  Here we will pick up on verse 7 of that chapter.

(v. 7) Godliness leads to love for other Christians,

When we are living our lives for God we are joined to His family and the whole family of believers.  Through our godliness we join the body of Christ, and just like love for family is a strong bond, no different is our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  When our perspective shifts to that of God and our thoughts are centered on Him we can love like God.  If we allow God to be ruler of our hearts He will use His amazing love through us and we will see people differently, as He sees them.  We will develop His eyes and fall in love with our family and our actions will follow those of Christ and the strong love he offered to His brothers and sisters.  

(v. 7 cont.) and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.

The body of Christ serves the people of the entire world, not just believers.  Growing in the body of Christ, and in our love for our family, will grow into genuine love for everyone because Christ loved everyone despite their actions and their beliefs.  Words describing genuine include authentic, true and real.  Perfect love comes from a genuine God from whom we have the power to love unconditionally, everyone we meet, if we allow Him to love through us. 

We can go all the way back to day one of our three part series on growing in God, and see that all of our actions are connected.  By handing over our thoughts and desires we can allow God to love through us.  By standing for what we believe, regardless of what suffering or ridicule it brings, makes us strong in the Lord, trusting on Him to lead our lives.  This same trust will lead to God loving through us and will change our perspective to align with His.  Growing in the Lord starts with the will to grow and when left up to the power of God, and our ability to truly seek His will and life for us, we become mature Christians.......we become Christ-like.

(v. 8)  The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear God, I want to know you!  I want to be like Christ and grow in my knowledge of You so that our relationship can flourish and produce amazing things!  Thanks for Your Word that I can learn how to grow and walk closer with You.  Be with all Christians, everywhere, so that they can grow in their love for the world and we can start loving and acting through the power of Your love flowing through us.  Help me to never forget the importance of applying these words to my life and letting them make me into a new person.  In Jesus' Name.........Amen