Grow in Grace (2 Peter 3:18)

Just like a child who has not yet grasped the concept of object permanence, or the understanding that things we can't see still exist, we tend to forget God is always there. Even though we cannot see him in our lives, he is there, but sometimes it is hard to grasp on to the idea. Child development theorist say that it takes a newborn 8 months before they can understand the concept of object permanence but how long does it take a saint of God?

Our houses of worship are where we get our nourishment as we grow in grace. The shepherds that he put into place are responsible for feeding us the word of God and also for training us to live in a manner that is holy and acceptable before him. At some point new believers will have their opportunity to demonstrate what they've "learned" from their leaders.

On his way to prison, Paul and several other prisoners found themselves in a bad situation. He was on a ship that was damaged by the waves and men were preparing to jump out into the sea.

Acts 27:41-44 reads, "And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land."

Because Paul was on that ship, all of those other prisoners were spared. The centurion knew that if any of those prisoners escaped, it would cost him his life but he chose to spare all of them, to save Paul's. Instead, he told the ones who could swim, to get out into the water and get to dry land. Those who could not swim had to hang on to broken pieces of the ship.

As saints of God, we have to swim. We can't keep getting by on broken pieces, just barely making it. Those who know how to pray, seek God, read their word and activate their faith won't have to get by on broken peices. It's time to leave the kindergarten sized seats alone. They are too small for us in a time where we have no other choice but to trust in the Lord.

-TheReadersChoice