Photo: The Morgue File, Taliesin
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
I am still slowly making my way through JC Ryle’s book, Holiness. I really have been enjoying it and have been told more than once by others, “That’s a really good book.” I agree!
The subject I just finished reading was Growth. He pointed out that this is every Christian’s duty to be growing in grace. Here are a few of the passages that teach this doctrine: “your faith groweth exceedingly” (2 Thess. 1:3), “We beseech you that ye increase more and more” (1 Thess 4:10), “Increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:10), “Having hope, when your faith is increased.” (2Cor 10:15, “The Lord make you to increase in love.” (1 Thess. 3:12), “That ye may grow up into Him in all things.” (Eph. 4:15), “I pray that your love may abound more and more.” (Phil 1:9), “We beseech you, as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” (1 Thess. 4:1), “Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1 Pe. 2:2), and the text above.
After showing the doctrine, he proceeds to apply it to us, or teach what this means for us today. One of his points was very helpful to me and I think it is often overlooked so I thought I would share it with you. Ryle says:
“Another thing which is essential to growth in grace is caution about the company we keep and the friendships we form. Nothing perhaps affects a man’s character more than the company he keeps. We catch the ways and tone of those we live and talk with, and unhappily get harm far more easily than good. Disease is infection, but health is not. Now if a professing Christian deliberately chooses to be intimate with those who are not friends of God and who cling to the world, his soul is sure to take harm. It is hard enough to serve Christ under any circumstances in such a world as this. But it is doubly hard to do it if we are friends of the thoughtless and ungodly. Mistakes in friendship or marriage-engagements are the whole reason why some have entirely ceased to grow. “Evil communication corrupt good manners.” “The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” (1 Cor. 15:33; James 4:4) Let us seek friends that will stir us up about our prayers, our Bible-reading, and our employment of time–about our souls, our salvation, and a world to come. Who can tell the good that a friend’s word in season may do, or the harm that it may stop? This is one way to grow.”
In short, be careful who you decide to spend your days and time with. And since I am blogging this, I would say becareful what blogs you are reading even. Countless times my thoughts have been affected by something another woman wrote on their blog–for the good and for the bad. I needed this reminder and it is a great topic to meditate on. May the Lord bless your soul with it today too, and grant us mercy to be continually growing in grace.
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