“In Increasing Measure”
One area that I see a lot of my friends and many youth pastors struggle with is sanctification–or namely, perfectionism.
I don’t know how it happens, but somehow it has become easy for believers to first be enamored by the love and grace of God, in spite of anything and everything they have done, only to feel a few months or years later that they have to do something to earn that grace.
Well, I read a verse this morning that I thought was extremely encouraging, addressing that issue directly.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV, emphasis mine
I love praying over these characteristics that Peter lists, asking God to develop them in my life. But what amazed me this morning was the phrase, “in increasing measure.”
By using this simple phrase, I think Peter was emphasizing a specific truth: The “sanctification” part of living the Christian life isn’t about arriving at perfectionism. It’s about a pursuit of godliness.
We haven’t arrived and probably never will. We make mistakes, and Jesus is still standing right there with us, just as He was on the day we were first saved. He helps us get up and keep on, letting us know that He’s not after perfectionism.
And we have the chance to grow in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love every day as we strive to reflect Christ. What’s important is that His grace never changes, and His mercy is new every morning.
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