A Breath of Fresh Air Shows

                      From the Pastor’s Heart

Growth in Grace

      It is important for Christians to understand that
as we grow in our relationship with God (and by that I
mean a believer’s increased desire to bring glory to
God alone), we find ourselves more acutely aware of
our own imperfections.
This should encourage us because the awareness of
our own sinfulness demonstrates, as one author
puts it, our increasing “knowledge of the Holy.”
When a Christian grows in their relationship with a
holy God, their own lack of holiness is made more
evident by profound contrast.
      In addition, we should be stirred toward a
growing dependence upon His grace. This was the
Apostle Paul’s personal lesson revealed to him when
dealing with his own weakness and sinfulness (see 2
Cor. 12:8-10 and Rom. 7:18-19).
      Also, those who are growing in the grace of God
are less self-absorbed and self concerned. Growth
in grace brings an increased spirit of worship and
praise. As J.I. Packer states, “There is a kind of
balance effect that operates here. If your pride and
conceit are rising, your concern about praising God
will be diminishing.”
      We can go to the life of Paul to see his
perspective, both in his growing desire to bring God
glory and his diminishing self-concern in
relationship to God’s glory. Earlier in Paul’s ministry,
around AD 57, when writing to the church at Corinth,
he spoke of himself as the “least of the apostles” (1
Cor 15:9). Writing to the church in Ephesus, about 5
years later, he refers to himself as “the very least of
all the saints” (Eph 3:8). And then near the end of
Paul’s life, writing to Timothy, about 66AD, he says
that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Tim 1:15)
      Like John the Baptist’s own declaration, “He
must increase, but I must decrease.” Oh that we
would desire such growth in grace with an increased
love and passion for the glory and praise of our God!