This week we have crossed the line which separates one year from the next. We often associate ‘new year’ with good wishes, plans and ambitions. In the spiritual realm also we often become motivated with new year. There is the beginning of a new bible reading scheme or the opening of a new daily devotional. The new year will bring new hopes, but also new trials, new challenges and new difficulties but there will also be new opportunities, new avenues of service. Sometimes in the mysterious economy of God’s providence the challenges bring the opportunities; they are the clouds which are big with mercy.

Andrew Bonar, 19th Century Scottish Presbyterian Minister and diarist, made reference over the years to the impact that new year had upon him.

I am to begin today the practice of learning a little of the Bible by heart every morning before breakfast.

1st January 1831 (21 years of age)

Yesterday was a happy day throughout; near to Christ and seemed to get answer from Him all the day.

1st January 1838

Began the year with our week of special prayer

14th January 1854

“Another year nearer the great eternity and the great day of the Lord…In looking back over the past year I am struck with noticing how comparatively little of conversion among my people has been taking place during these last four months. Lord let not this continue so…”

1st January 1862

“….Lord, this year may the Spirit fill my soul, revealing the fullness of Christ to me from day to day”

2nd January 1868

”…the stream of life flows on, and I seem borne down to the ocean without very much concern. Holy Ghost fill me. More carefully than ever I hope this year to give two hours before going out every day, to meditate on the Word and prayer. And in this way there shall go out of me heavenward ‘rivers of living water’ that will bring down refreshing rain showers…Sometimes I have an awful fear of becoming a backslider! Lord, Lord, wilt thou keep me…”

1st January 1890 (the year in which he would turn 80, two years before his death)

It is with this in mind we will consider Peter’s final apostolic words of a writer of inspired Scripture under the title NEW YEAR; NEW RESOLVE.

” But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:18

Peter wrote these words within the context of a wicked and corrupt world in which Christians were called to bear witness. He also wrote the words in the light of challenges arising from within the Church to the faith of the apostles:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2nd Peter 2:1-2

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2nd Peter 3:1-4

This is the true significance of the “But” which begins the text. It is written to keep God’s people free from error in a corrupt world, as the previous verse indicates.

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

2nd Peter 3:17

To stay clear of sin, to avoid division, as a preventative to backsliding we must go for growth!

THE GROWTH TO BE DESIRED

Let us resolve this year to grow. It natural for the living to grow. Therefore those who have been born again of the spirit of God must growing.

Let us pray that we will growth in faith. Faith is the root grace; the first gift of the Holy Ghost. Faith begins small, is in constant need need of strengthening. Faith grips the truth of Scripture, clings to the promises and never loses hope.

We must pray for a growth of love. When we were first converted we only began loving the Lord. Then our love was but a spark, but every spark has the potential to be an intense flame.

We should pray for a growth in humility. Pride is our greatest problem. Humility is our greatest need. Not the false humility that parades itself before others, which is in itself an act of pride. Rather we seek for humility before God. The humble heart relies upon Him, trusts Him, honours Him.

We long for an improvement in our prayer lives. The need for growth will always be evidenced by our lack of praying. Who among us prays as much as they could or as they should? Oh – that we would be mighty in prayer, claiming God’s promises for His Church.

One of the great Biblical metaphors for men and women of God are trees. Trees represent stability and continuity. Their growth is slow but sure. Their roots go ever downward. Their foliage provides shade and their fruit supplies sustenance. They outlast the cold winter blast and they are vibrant amid summer’s joy.

As trees we pray that we will grow as a comforting and stabilising influence in a broken world.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3

As trees we pray that we will have deep roots in God’s Word, as the blessed man of Psalm 1.

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Psalms 1:3

We pray that we will be fruitful in the House of God, among the people of God being an encouragement and an example.

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God:
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”

Psalms 52:8

Another Biblical example is natural maturity. 

As children graduate beyond milk to solids so our spiritual diet must be strengthened in order that we might grow in godliness.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Hebrews 5:12-14

As children put away their toys for more adult pursuits so we are become less shallow, more serious and more purposeful as we grow in grace.

” When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

1 Corinthians 13:11

THE KNOWLEDGE TO BE PURSUED

The path to this growth is Christ because Peter connects it to “the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. 

This is more than a mere head knowledge or academic acquaintance of Christ’s life, ministry and theological significance. While there ought to be a thirst, a desire to know more of Jesus Christ, as He is revealed in the Word, and to discover more of His truth – such knowledge is of little consequence if we do not become more intimately acquainted with Him in heart, soul and mind. Ultimately this knowledge is one of intimacy and spirituality. It is mystical in one sense yet preeminently practical in another because He captures our hearts. Oh that this year our hearts would be one with Jesus; that they would beat in time with His, that our footsteps would partner His steps, that our prayers would harmonise with His prayers.

This was the ambition, the desire of the great Apostle Paul. His knowledge of Christ humbled Him at the cross, where he saw all His sufferings in the light of Calvary. This knowledge also helped Him understand life through the prism of resurrection which forever guaranteed Him victory; and us likewise.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Philippians 3:7-10

THE GLORY TO BE ACHIEVED

Peter signs off with a doxology – the great ambition of every Christian life, every Christian endeavour and the realisation of eternity – “To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

Christ is the object of our ambition, of all that we seek to achieve. It for His honour; it is to please Him.

Only a progressive spirituality glorifies Christ. We may progress in other areas BUT if we starve our souls then we are paying too high a price. It is vital that we reassess our time, our priorities, our goals. Where the success of temporal Government is often measured by economic output our success as Christians can only measured by our growth in grace…this year let us be resolved to PLAN FOR GROWTH.

The doxology in this Psalm ties together time and eternity. Peter talks about the glory for “now” and “forever”. To take growth seriously is to live with eternity in view – to have the perspective of eternal life shadowing our footsteps. It is to be concerned for souls who are lost for eternity except they be converted.

The final word “Amen” is one of resolve. “Let it be so”. Will we launch out into this year echoing Amen to this great text?

” But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

2nd Peter 3:18