For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen Christ's majestic splendor with our own eyes.

And Jesus received honor and glory from God the Parent when God's glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, "This is my beloved Child; I am fully pleased with him."

We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain.

- 2 Peter 1:16-18 (see also Matthew 17:1-7)

Finding Help for Spiritual Growth

Last week, I lamented that spiritual growth seems like this cryptic, wishful thinking, wannabe sort of foggy pipe dream.  Okay, I didn’t say it like that, but isn’t that a fairly good description of how we feel about spiritual growth sometimes?

I touched on something Peter said in his second letter to a group of Christians, that Jesus starts the growth by planting the seed of faith in our hearts, and that God sees it through until it’s finished.  Heh!  It’s almost like it’s already in the bag!  Right?  Well, not exactly.  We still have to put some work into it of our own.

We need to get to know Jesus more and more.  If we look at the bible, certain parts of it speak to us better in some ways, and other sections speak in other ways.  For example, the Old Testament seems to be not much more than a set of warnings – helpful, but perhaps not the best choice for getting to Jesus. 

The New Testament speaks more specifically to our relationship with Jesus.  The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, give us chronological stories of Jesus’ time on earth, and his interaction with the people of that time.  The book of Acts is post Jesus, early church history.  The epistles or letters to the churches offer guidance, warning, encouragement and instruction for our spiritual growth.  Revelation… well, lets leave Revelation alone for now.

If the second step for spiritual growth is getting to know Jesus more and more… which set of books seems best for us to get to know him?  The Gospels?  Good one!  Spend lots of time in the Gospels getting close to Jesus, talking with him, and letting him talk to you.  You’re well on your way to spiritual growth!

Invitation to pray:  Savior Jesus, you’ve planted the seed, and now I want to know you better.  Speak to me from Good News pages.  May God’s voice echo in my heart the words, “This is my child, in whom I am well pleased” – speaking of you Jesus… and of me.  Amen.