Grace Makes Us Increase With All The Increase of God; Part I
“You will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”(Malachi 4:2) INDEED, “A new day will dawn on us from above because our God is loving and merciful.” (Luke 1:78)
They were confined by darkness and disease, but the Sun of Righteousness arises, and with healing under his wings; and thus, the true light now shinning, health being restored, they become free and active. They go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. For even now they have not attained, they are not already perfect. Nor are they to remain what they are, but to increase with all the increase of God. Some argue, there is no growth in grace, claiming growth is only horizontal; as if Christians could not be more wise, more humble, more stable, more patient, more zealous, than they are:
- As if Paul’s commendation of the Thessalonians was a falsehood, when he told them, that their faith grew exceedingly, and the love of every one of them toward each other flourished; (2 Thess. 1:3)
- As if Peter enjoined an absurdity, when he admonished Christians to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour; (2 Peter 3:18)
- As if God Himself mocked or trifled, when He said, “The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger; (Job 17:9)
We are not to deny God’s blessings for our souls; yes, we ought to be grateful and give thanks to our Lord, if we have only light enough to see our darkness, and feeling enough to be sensible for our hardness.
CONFESS AS FOLLOWS:
I hope in the LORD, my strength is daily renewed, I soar high on wings like eagles, I run and not grow weary, I walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Praise God!