How Our Own Spiritual Growth Helps Us Know God Better
Powerful Insights from the Apostle Peter on Abundant Life and Knowing God
Having a love-driven, personal relationship with God is the greatest privilege given to followers of Jesus. My very limited understanding of a God who created a vast, complex universe is overwhelmed by this truth:
“I get to have a deep, personal relationship with God Himself.”
The Bible tells us that God cares so much about us that He knows the very number of hairs on our head and even our thoughts. He runs heaven and earth, yet still knows each one of us intimately. He is truly amazing!
Why Spiritual Growth Matters
What we often fail to fully grasp is that spiritual growth plays a crucial role in helping us know God better. The more we grow spiritually, the better we can know Him. The Apostle Peter’s letters offer profound insights into how spiritual growth helps deepen our relationship with God.
The Apostle Peter’s Insights
Before his death, Peter wrote two letters, and in his final one, he teaches us that God has already "given us everything that pertains to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).
Through God's "precious and magnificent promises," He imparts His divine nature to us (2 Peter 1:4). This is a foundational truth worth meditating on.
The Power of Diligence in Growth
Peter goes on to explain that, for this very reason, we must apply all diligence to our faith (2 Peter 1:5). He lists several qualities we should work to add to our lives:
Moral excellence
Knowledge
Self-control
Perseverance
Godliness
Brotherly kindness
Love (2 Peter 1:5-7)
These qualities are the building blocks for spiritual growth. They are the result of God's provision and our diligent efforts to grow in Christlikeness.
The Promise of Growth: Usefulness and Fruitfulness
Peter then offers an incredible promise:
“For if these qualities/virtues are yours and increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).
When we diligently pursue growth in these areas, we become:
Useful
Fruitful
More knowledgeable of Jesus
As these qualities grow, we become more useful and more fruitful in our relationship with Jesus and in living His plans for our lives.
The More We Know, the More We Grow
The process of growing spiritually mirrors how our relationships deepen over time. When I was a child, I could only know my father to a limited degree. As I grew older, matured, and became a father myself, my understanding of him and our relationship deepened. Similarly, the more we grow in Christ, the more we can understand Him and communicate with Him at a deeper level.
Spiritual Growth = Richer Life and Deeper Relationship with Jesus
As we grow spiritually, we experience richer lives and can know Jesus more deeply. Spiritual growth enables us to understand Him more fully, hear His heart more clearly, and work alongside Him in His mission.
Spiritual growth takes effort, but the reward is worth it. Growing in Christ and knowing Him is the greatest privilege of all.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
