You are doing a great job.
You are reading your Bible. You are faithful on Sundays. You are praying for your family, friends, and neighbors. You are concocting holy-adventures.
You sigh with satisfaction.
You read 2 Peter 1.
You sigh with just a touch of frustration.
MORE HI-HAT
“Why is Peter always yammering on about ‘being diligent’ and ‘increasing’ and ‘discipleship’?” Don’t we kind-of know all we need to know about Christian living and being disciples? I mean, we don’t know (sarcastic voice) “everything,” but we know plenty, right? Enough?
This is what Peter addresses in 2 Peter 1:12. "I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have."
He says, “Yes, you know this stuff.” And he says, “Yes, you have been established in the truth you have.” He’s saying, “I know you’re probably a little frustrated with me; you think me a dotty old man returning to his infancy, hitting this truth like a six-year old working the hi-hat on a birthday drum kit.”
Okay. Yes, they know about discipleship. Yes, they’re doing well. But only as far as “the truth that you have.” In other words, you’re doing well, but there’s further to go.
Peter is laying out a vision for us: Christian discipleship is a journey “from strength to strength.” (Psa 84:7) Spiritual growth leads to…spiritual growth. He’s saying, “You’re established in that truth? Great! Let’s keep going!” The joys you’ve experienced—the freedom, peace, strength, and love—aren’t over. There’s more.
THESE BOOTS
Praise God for your maturity. You understand a lot and that’s great. You’ve read a lot of the Bible. You pray over ever single meal. You attend your church services faithfully and even put money in the plates. You serve. You’ve stopped doing that bad thing. These are all great! For real. Spiritual growth is amazing! The Spirit of the Living God at work in your life? Celebrate! Rejoice! Every toddling-step we take on this journey is watched over by a dozen smiling angels snapping pictures and praising Jesus.
But don’t mistake walking from the ottoman to the couch with finishing the journey. These boots were made for walking. Spiritual growth leads to spiritual growth.
So praise God for your maturity. And then be honest about its extent, its limits, and press forward. Accept your progress—you got it and that’s great. And then admit your limits—you want more, don’t you?
At this point we may be tempted to fake humility—“Oh no, no! I’m nothing and am still like an infant in the Lord!”—so then we avoid situations that will stretch us, slurping milk when we could be chewing meat. Or we may be tempted to pride—“Don’t you see how far I’ve come? Do you really think I need an accountability group? A Bible study? With you!?”—so we exempt ourselves from growth and remain spiritual teenagers, gazing lovingly at ourselves in the mirror, teasing those poor bangs to death.
GET IT WANT IT
Once you get it, you want it. That’s what Peter closes this section with. “You get it? Great. Then you want it? Of course.”
I like coffee. The first time I had black coffee—back in college—I thought it tasted like liquid-cigarettes. Then I got into flavored coffee. Then I found out about whole-bean coffee freshly ground. Then I found out about the French Press. Then I found out about boutique roasting and burr-grinding. Yes, I’ve become something of a spaz. Because… once you get it, you want it.
I had a few friends-who-were-girls in high school and college. But then this one girl transferred in mid-year and sat in front of me in class. And then I met her and heard her talk. So I schemed my way into being in places I knew she’d be. Because… once you get it, you want it. And the more I got to her know her, the more I wanted to know her. And the more we hung out, the more I wanted to hang out. The more we talked, the more I wanted to talk. The more we laughed, the more I wanted to laugh with her. Yes, I’ve become something of a spaz.
Once you get it, you want it.
That’s how good things work.
And there’s no good thing as good as going through life alert to the swirling of the Spirit and the steady presence of Jesus and the smile of the Father. There’s no good thing as good as the discipleship journey—passing from strength to strength, from smile to smile, together. There’s nothing like the utter security and the constant surprises of life with God.
You’re established in the truth you have. And once you get it, you want it.
Photo by Vance Osterhout on Unsplash
