Something amazing happened! You were dead in sin, apart from God, lost and blind. You were rebelling against God and breaking His laws, following the lusts of your flesh and the world, in bondage to Satan. You were an enemy of God, living for yourself, unrighteous, unholy, and unclean. You deserved His punishment, His wrath, death, and hell.
But you turned from your sin and trusted in Him and His work on the cross for you. God in His mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace saved you. Christ came in grace and truth, and His grace is greater than your sin. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace on top of grace” (John 1:16).” 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” You are born again; thank God for His grace!
Now you are growing up in Jesus. What does it mean to grow in Christ, to make progress in the Christian life, to be more godly, to be more like Him? “Be holy as your Father in heaven is holy;” are you more holy today than you were yesterday? You are being transformed from one degree of glory to another; how holy you will be on that day you meet Him face to face! But what happens until then? How are you maturing and growing in Christ day-by-day?
The Thessalonians were living this out. They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. They showed work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. They learned how to be Christians from Paul and his team, and then they became a model to other believers in the area. The Lord’s message rang out from them, and their faith in God was known far and wide. They weren’t perfect, but they were making progress; are you?
Consider today how you are knowing and growing in Christ. What steps are you taking to love God, give glory to God, love one another, and serve one another more? How often are you confessing sin and turning from sin to holiness and righteous living? Are you increasing in the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)? In all these things, make progress. Fight the good fight and keep up the good work to grow in Christ.