“Who is the fastest and strongest guy in the class?” I asked. “Dre’,” everyone responded. “Who works at it more than anyone else?” “Dre’,” the students repeated. Lavondre’ is going to college on a football scholarship even though he is only about 5’6″. He is an outstanding athlete and a fine young man. “Through his high school career, Lavondre’ has maximized his physical genetic potential; no one outworks him,” his strength training coach said.
This discussion arose as we noticed the boldness of Christians in lands where persecution is common. My students were amazed at the determination, courage, and perseverance of men and women who risk their lives to proclaim their faith. One girl named Grace has been arrested, beaten, and endured several years in jail. Instead of being silenced, Grace has led her fellow prisoners to Christ. The more she is persecuted, the more her faith seems to increase. As the one who exercises his muscles gets physically stronger, so the one who exercises her faith gets spiritually stronger.
We may hesitate to make such statements for fear of proclaiming a ‘works salvation,’ but this is not about the gift of salvation. God provides the means of salvation through his obedient Son. Jesus accomplished the work through which we are saved. But what do we do with what we’ve been given? God does not intend for his children to remain immature and ineffective… He wants us to grow and to be fruitful. We grow as we abide in Christ and Jesus promised that his Father, the Gardener, will produce good fruit. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)
Peter prayed that we would grow in the knowledge of God. So how does this happen? Grace put her faith in Jesus at age twelve, but never had access to a Bible until she was sixteen. Overjoyed, she read intently then copied down as much of the Bible as she could. She then began spreading the Word to others. Reading and studying is important, but Lavondre’ would not be as strong as he is today by simply reading magazines about weight lifting. Growth in Christ comes as we put his teachings into practice. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10) We have been given everything we need; how then shall we live?
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:2-8