Beautifully Refined: Growing in Christ Day by DaySample

When we’re at Point A in life, it can be so hard to look ahead at Point Z (or even Point B!) and think we’re going to get there.

As a kid, I loved going over to my Gram’s house. She’d roast London Broil, sauteed green beans with mushrooms, and make some delicious potato concoction for dinner without even looking at a recipe. I, however, couldn’t even scramble eggs without making a mess.

“You’ll get there,” Gram always said with a wave of her hand, like she wasn’t some brilliant kitchen whiz with supernatural cooking skills up her sleeve. Ha!

Yet today, I can cook—really cook. I’m not Julia Child caliber, but I know my way around the kitchen, have a slew of my own special recipes scattered around my brain, and even earn a consistent thumbs-up from my stepkids. It didn’t happen overnight, and I certainly made a whole bunch of spaghetti and boxed mac-and-cheese back in my early twenties. But little by little, I tried new recipes, took chances, and persisted in my efforts night after night to cook healthy, yummy meals for me and my family. Gram was right—I did get there.

Reading the apostle Peter’s encouragement in Scripture, about how we should consistently strive to grow in our knowledge of God’s word to achieve spiritual maturity, reminds me of my growth in the kitchen.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen,” Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NIV).

Indeed, Peter knew very well that all around us are smooth-talkers who teach their own version of Christianity, and it can be so easy to get swept up in the passion and zeal of culture and sweet words. Sometimes, whether out of ignorance or evil, people twist God’s words and intent for other meanings that are not in line with God’s ways at all. False prophets and misguided teachers abound.

But God has given us the Bible for us to read, study, tuck into our hearts, and cling to.

God’s Word is eternal, and it gives us true direction. It helps us to: know God better, guard our hearts against evil, and offer encouragement even when we suffer.

As Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Scripture is to be “a lamp to [our]feet, a light to [our paths].” (Psalm 119:105).

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, encouraging his mentee to keep studying and drawing upon the wisdom of the Bible: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We don’t need to enroll in seminary or become a Bible expert to do all of this. But, if we read the Bible daily and make it a consistent part of our daily routine, we will grow in godly wisdom. God gave us His word as a gift to help us stay strong and experience the “filled-to-overflowing” life He promised us.

And that tastes even better than a home-cooked meal.

~Jessica Brodie

We hope you enjoyed this Bible reading plan. Visit us online to find additional faith-building resources and learn more about our ministry. Wholly Loved Ministries