Grow Up into Salvation

Daily Reading: 1 Peter 2

Scripture Focus: Grow up into salvation. (1 Peter 2.2)

Devotional Thought: What a joy to watch our children grow! They were not born to remain infants, but to grow in the life that they have received. The same is true of spiritual life. In 1 Peter 2, we see that spiritually we are to...

Grow up in salvation (v. 2). Too often we view salvation as a transaction, so that when we are 'saved' the deal is completed. End of story. Biblical salvation, however, is about so much more than being born again. God has saved us, is saving us, and will save us. Salvation is not a legal status, but a living relationship. We are always growing in it.

Be built up (v. 5). This indicates that our growth is the work of God, not ourselves. Just as a plant grows because of the sun, rain and soil, so we grow in the Lord because he shines his love on us in our worship, he refreshes us with the Word, and he plants us in the nourishing environment of the Church. Grace always is at work in our salvation!

Refuse to cover up (v. 16). Some, in Peter's day, were using freedom in Christ as a cover up for doing evil. Peter said that's not what freedom is all about. Rather, we are set free from sin in order to become servants of God. What a trade that is! No longer under the tyranny and misery of sin, we are liberated to "put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4.24).

Let us grow up into our salvation!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Help me, I pray, to grow up into this salvation. I have so much growing to do, and I'm so excited about the possibilities of grace before me. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 59.10-17

10 My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! 12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, 13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.