Posted by: missionventureministries | October 8, 2020

HOW TO GROW IN GRACE, KNOWLEDGE AND EFFECTIVENESS IN SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 2 Peter 3:18

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) 

Do you know that our attitude toward Scripture will determine our effectiveness in spiritual battle? Yes that is what happens. 

Let me share a story that I once read that made quite an impression on me. It is about a man who was gazing at a beautiful garden. 

First he saw a butterfly flitting from flower to flower. As he watched the butterfly for a few seconds it fluttered from flower to flower but derived no particular benefit from any of them. 

Next he saw two botanists one with a large notebook and the other with a microscope in hand. As the botanists carefully observed each flower, they made copious entries in the book. But after hours of meticulous study, most of what they learned was shut up in the book; and very little remained in their minds. 

Then he saw a little bee entering a flower and emerging laden with pollen. It had left the hive that morning empty but would return full. 

When it comes to Bible study, some people are like butterflies, going from one favorite verse to another, one seminar or bible study to another. They are very busy and expend much energy but have little to show for their efforts. They remain unchanged in any significant way because they never really explored the Word of God wholeheartedly. They are content to simply flutter around making themselves busy but never gaining anything from their endeavor. 

Others, like the botanists, may study in great depth but never apply it to their lives. Did you know that there are entire commentaries written by unbelievers? In some cases their grasp of Scripture is exceptional, but they know nothing of the true love for God and obedience to Biblical truth. What a tragedy! But we don’t have to be a Biblical scholar to make that mistake; we need only to fail to apply what we learn to our life. 

We should thank God each day for the opportunities He gives us to study His Word and take full advantage of what He reveals to us so that we can live a happier and more fulfilled life. 

Jesus taught us to depend on God’s Word for our “daily bread.” We cannot underestimate the importance of consuming it regularly, for it is the fuel of our spiritual lives (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). God’s Word equips and empowers us to serve Him (2 Timothy 3:17; Hebrews 4:12), and we can exert it as our greatest offensive weapon against our adversary, the devil, and the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:17). 

We need to understand that the Word of God is eternal: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). 

That Truth is eternal: “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). 

So how can we doubt the importance of the Bible, when we read, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35)? 

Therefore we should be like the bee and strive to spend time in the Word; reading, studying, making notes, then emerging fuller than when we began; and as we do this, our mind will be filled with wisdom and Biblical insights. Our life will be sweeter and purer because the God’s Word has done its work (1 Corinthians 2:13).

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