Living in the Garden of Grace: Growing in Grace

In 2 Peter 3:18, we are urged to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” David Kuykendall’s reflection on this verse reminds us of God’s deep desire for His children to grow—not just in knowledge or understanding, but in grace itself.

Growth in grace is the very heart of our Christian journey. Just as earthly parents delight in seeing their children mature, our heavenly Father takes pleasure in our growth. Yet, how often do we miss out on the joy of bringing Him pleasure when we stall in our spiritual development?

Experiencing More Grace

Kuykendall points out an inspiring truth: there is such a thing as growing in more grace. We are not static beings; each day brings an opportunity to experience more of God’s grace than the day before. This continuous deepening of grace flows from obedience. As Romans 6:16 states:

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

When we yield to God’s commands, particularly those that align us with His grace, we begin to develop spiritual habits. Over time, this obedience transforms into a joyful enslavement to righteousness, drawing us deeper into the rhythm of God’s grace. The more consistently we obey, the more we experience His grace—not as a distant concept, but as a tangible, life-transforming reality.

The Heavenly Perspective

Ephesians 2:6 reminds us of our position in Christ:

“God…made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

This enthroned position is not just a future promise but a present reality. Living in Christ means living in a place of grace, where growth is inevitable as we yield to His Spirit. The more we embrace this truth, the more we grow—not by striving, but by resting in His sufficiency and responding to His love.

Pleasing the Father Through Growth

Growing in grace pleases our heavenly Father because it reflects His work in us. It is not about our effort to earn His favor but about yielding to His Spirit, allowing Him to transform us. As Kuykendall so aptly puts it, "The more time of each day we spend receiving the grace of God, the more we grow by grace and in grace."

A Prayer for Growing in Grace

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of growing in Your grace. We yield ourselves to You daily, trusting Your Spirit to shape our lives. May our growth bring You delight as we rest in the sufficiency of Christ and live from the heavenly position You have given us. Enable us to reflect Your kindness and grace to those around us, for Your glory and our joy. In Jesus’ name, amen