The Magnificent Grace of God DevotionalSample

The Magnificent Grace of God Grows Us

Have you ever noticed that every person God used in the Bible experienced the gift of His grace in a way that produced growth and change in them? Yesterday, we spent a great deal of time in the book of Ephesians gleaning from the wisdom of Paul. However, he was not the only one to experience growth because of grace given to him.

Remember Peter?

He was the disciple that vowed he’d never deny Jesus, yet when tested, he disowned Him three times. He was the disciple that was daring enough to step out of the boat at Jesus’ command, only to be drowned by doubt just a few steps later. He was the disciple that acted out of his flesh in the Garden of Gethsemane, cutting off the soldier’s ear when Jesus was arrested.

What am I saying here? Well, like you and me, Peter was fallible.

Imperfect.

Human.

But over time, this fisherman turned follower of Christ grew in grace and boldly preached to the crowds in the book of Acts, converting thousands of Jews and Gentiles alike. He performed miracles in Jesus’ name, even bringing the dead back to life (Acts 9:36-43). He was persecuted, imprisoned, and would eventually be crucified for his faith, a far cry from his days of denying Jesus.

Grace wasn’t just multiplied to Peter. Over time, he learned to partner with grace and his journey teaches me these three things:

First, Peter had to let go to grow. He desired a relationship with Jesus, leaving everything to follow Him. Think about that for a minute and then ask yourself: What are the things that I need to let go of so that God’s grace is multiplied to me?

Secondly, Peter had to know to grow. He spent years intimately walking and talking with Jesus. So, his words to believers in 2 Peter 1:1-10 are not just pretty talk. Gleaning from his own experience, Peter reminds believers that grace is multiplied to them in the knowledge of God. In other words, the more we know of God, the more we grow in His grace. Dr. Tony Evans says that grace becomes “an environment we live in, not a location we visit.”

Lastly, Peter had to go to grow. Because Peter wanted others to multiply in God’s grace, he immersed himself completely in the call of God for his life. Even in the face of opposition, he went into all the world, fulfilling the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20). This is our call as believers too – a call that will cause us to go, but where grace will cause us to grow.

Friends, grace is not only a starting point in your journey – it’s a growing point. So, I say, let it grow.