Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-10
First thing every morning I drink a small glass of milk for a protein shot to the brain. I crave this little boost, because it improves my morning productivity. The pure spiritual milk in 1 Peter 2:2 is the word of God and is the key to our spiritual productivity and growth.
The fullness of salvation is not something you attain the moment you are born again. The fullness of salvation is a state we have yet to achieve, and the whole of this Christian life can be spent in growing toward that state. When we taste the grace and goodness of the Lord, our desire to grow becomes stronger and we develop a continuous appetite for spiritual food. Peter describes this growth in three different ways.
1. Growing through internal transformation (v 1-3)
We must get the word of God into our heart by any means possible. First of all, through reading the Bible and asking God to help us apply it to our lives. This means intentionally spending time with God and His Word. This means having the discipline to study, and to have a plan, and appointment with God. The more we crave the Word of God, the more we will use every means possible to feed our growth. We are already bombarded with secular media, so why not enjoy Christian music, TV, movies, books and radio when possible. How are you taking time every day to feed on God’s word? Do you crave it?
2. Growing through serving in the church (v 4-8)
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church, and we are the bricks that are being built into the church. The church is not a building. The church is made of people, people who serve as God’s priests, doing the work of the church. Romans 12:5, “We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Serving in the church is not an option for a Christian who wants to grow. How are you growing through serving?
3. Growing into the community of believers (v 9-10)
We are a chosen people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. We are the people of God. We were called out of darkness, into the light, so that as a community, we can show others the goodness of God, the limitless, merciful, ever present, goodness of God. There are certain challenges which God has given us that can only be accomplished by the community of believers working together. How are you growing to be an active, fully participating, member of a community of believers?
The Christian life is not a holding pattern for people who are born again. We are called to grow, to cry out for nourishment so that we will grow into the fullness of salvation.
-DJS
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