Today's encouragement comes from 2 Peter 3:18a, where we read these words:
" . . . But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . . . "How does a church full of regenerate Christians *grow* in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"? Certainly, by being well-fed. The context of Peter's injunction (above) is largely that of the proper use and understanding of the word of God (the sacred scriptures)—particularly as they are preached.
Believers *grow* when we ingest Jesus as The Word—being hungry for Him alone. The written word, which is the basis and foundation of the church's preached word, always points everyone to The Incarnate Word (Jesus), (the "Logos," of Jn. 1:1). This "Word” (Christ) is The ultimate Revel-ation of God. Only He (Jesus) can "feed" us. He feeds us His own Person, His "flesh" and "blood," in the preached Gospel, and in the proper adminis-tration of the sacrament of The Lord's Supper.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Every godly, gracious man is a praying man.”
—William Bridge, in, "A Lifting Up For the Downcast"]
