Roger Thrower

2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Paul is giving thanks for these followers of Christ because their faith is growing abundantly and their love for each other is increasing.

Jesus said in a prayer to Father God:
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17: 3).

Father God revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ, and the entire gospel rests on this claim: Knowing God, through Jesus, brings abundant, eternal life. Our Father is a God of relationship. He wants to be our Father and have a personal friendship with us; and through that relationship, He wants to reveal His ways to us. When we know the Father and develop a love relationship with Him, we are secure as believers, willing and ready to reach out to others in love.

This is the great challenge of mankind: To know God as a loving Father who is in love with you. Jesus came to convince us of this.

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song