Daily Affirmations - Day 3 - Strength to Strength - Grow in Grace

Day 3: Grow in Grace

I am called to serve others as a faithful steward of God's grace in its various forms

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:18). 

Our Father in heaven, God of infinite grace, You give Your grace and peace in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

But the knowledge You desire us to have is not a "head-knowledge"— not a mere intellectual assent to a blurred, hazy, abstract, or a humanly constructed concept of God. Indeed not.

You invite us into the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). You invite us into reverence, holy awe, and wisdom, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). And You invite us into peace, rest, and forgiveness.

O Lord, far be it from us to be content to simply know of You— to speak of a faith that is not confirmed by evidence of a life grounded in Your truth and in the deeds of faith. We have the sobering words of the apostle James:

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder (James 2:18-19 - underline added for emphasis).

Father, You invite us to grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... (2 Peter 3:18). God, grow us! Open our understanding, like Job, who declared, My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You (Job 42:5).

And as we grow, help us to understand that Your grace and knowledge come with the same sobering responsibility of reflecting You to others that You assigned to Your ancient people:

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:10-11).

Lord! Help us to be good witnesses of Your holiness, Your might, Your power, Your love, Your justice, Your kindness, Your compassion, Your mercy, Your grace. Help not to be the cause of Your name being blasphemed among the the nations because of our attitudes, our actions, our omissions, our alliances, our dishonor to Your holy character (Romans 2:23-24).

Let us not be found among those who say, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do the will of the Father in heaven (Matthew 7:21). Help us to be true disciples. Help us to love as we have been loved. To forgive as we have been forgiven. To reflect the matchless mercy and infinite grace we do not deserve and can never repay.

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