2 Peter 3:14-18: a reflection

14Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight. 15Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, 16as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

As Peter closes his letter, he gives a final exhortation that captures the ongoing shape of the Christian life: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not to be static, standing still, but growing, advancing continually in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Peter does not tell them merely to hold their ground, but to grow, to keep advancing in knowing Christ and in the grace he gives. The call is to continual growth, not standing still.

Notice the call: to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, not standing still. Peter does not present the Christian life as a fixed state, arrived at and then maintained unchanged; he presents it as a growing thing, advancing continually in the grace and knowledge of Christ. We are to keep growing, keep advancing, keep coming to know Christ more and to grow in his grace, not standing still or stagnating. The Christian life is one of continual growth in knowing and receiving from Christ; to stand still is to fall short of the call to grow.

That call is worth taking to heart, for we can grow static in our faith, standing still rather than growing. We can settle into a fixed state, no longer growing in our knowledge of Christ or in his grace, content to hold our ground rather than advancing; but Peter calls us to grow, to keep advancing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Do not let your faith grow static, standing still; keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, continually advancing, coming to know him more and growing in his grace. Seek to grow, not merely to hold steady, advancing continually in knowing Christ and receiving his grace, as Peter exhorts us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; for the Christian life is one of continual growth, and we are called not to stand still, but to keep growing in Christ.

Lord, as Peter closes his letter, he gives a final exhortation that captures the ongoing shape of the Christian life: but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not to be static, standing still, but growing, advancing continually in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Peter does not tell them merely to hold their ground, but to grow, to keep advancing in knowing Christ and in the grace he gives. Show me the call: to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, not standing still. Peter does not present the Christian life as a fixed state, arrived at and then maintained unchanged; he presents it as a growing thing, advancing continually. I am to keep growing, keep coming to know Christ more and to grow in his grace, not standing still or stagnating. The Christian life is one of continual growth; to stand still is to fall short of the call to grow. Take that call to my heart, for I can grow static in my faith, standing still rather than growing. I can settle into a fixed state, no longer growing in my knowledge of Christ or in his grace, content to hold my ground; but Peter calls me to grow. Keep me from letting my faith grow static, standing still; help me keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, Lord, continually advancing, coming to know him more. Help me seek to grow, not merely to hold steady, advancing continually in knowing Christ and receiving his grace.