But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
In Clinical Data Management, organizations use Electronic Data Capture (EDC) to build databases to capture clinical data for analysis and subsequent submission to the FDA. Those EDC systems are up versioned continuously to improve their functionality and reliability. During the up-versioning process, all known system bugs or abnormalities are fixed, and the system is tested robustly to ensure the system is operating at an optimum level.
Believers should go through a spiritual up-version to ensure they continuously mature in Christ. Indeed, we are to examine ourselves daily to see whether we are living in obedience to Christ. This self-examination can reveal blind spots, unconfessed sins, or ungodly attitudes and behaviors we need to change. Ultimately, we want to improve the way we live out our Christian faith in the world so we can have more credibility as disciples of Christ.
Today’s text exhorts believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This spiritual growth is tantamount to spiritual up-versioning. It requires us to have an honest but difficult conversation with people we trust to tell us the truth about ourselves. Indeed, every believer should have a wise and spiritually mature believer to give them feedback about their spiritual functionality and the impression they give to others.
Peter wanted his readers to grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. This requires spending time with the word of God and in prayer. The word of God teaches the fundamentals of Christian living and equips us to do the great commission work given to us by Jesus Christ. Our knowledge of God’s word should continue to increase. We should set Bible memorization goals as well as fervency in prayer goals. For example, this year my goal is to memorize at least twenty additional psalms. I also want to add an additional hour of focused prayer daily to my prayer life.
No believer should want to remain on the same spiritual level they’ve always been. We should strive to become more fervent in prayer, have a closer walk with the Lord, grow in grace, and submit to Him more each passing day. Just as the Lord prunes us through His Holy Spirit so we can bear more spiritual fruits, we need to ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discipline to be transformed into the image of Christ.
In the end, we want to live as instruments of righteousness to the glory of God. We also want our testimony to be reliable so we can continue to proclaim the gospel of truth with integrity. Our individual daily prayer should be “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
The world is thirsty for spiritual authenticity and holiness. It hungers for the righteousness of Jesus Christ that believers have been called to live out. Therefore, we are to take heed of the way we live out our Christian faith and our spiritual footprint in the world. We must be careful not to be a stumbling block to the spiritual growth of anyone.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
Questions for Personal Reflection
Why is it necessary for believers to go through spiritual up-version?
How can you benefit from spiritual up-version?
Prayer- Blessed Lord, I thank you for cleansing me of my sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Please reveal to me unconfessed sins and spiritual blind spots so can continue to be transformed into the image of Christ.