“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 Peter 3:18 ESV)

Don’t be like children

“Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Cor. 14:20 ESV)

 Grow up into salvation

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2 ESV)

Grow up so that you will no longer be children tossed to and fro

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” (Eph. 4:14-15 ESV)

Until we attain to the unity of faith  

“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13 ESV)

Go on to maturity

“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.” (Heb. 6:1-3 ESV)

Be wise and increase in learning

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9 ESV)

And God will keeping working in you until the day of Jesus Christ 

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6 ESV)

“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Cor. 1:5 NIV)

Achieving an eternal glory that outweighs them all

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV)

Jesus, a man of suffering and familiar with pain

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” (Isa. 53:5 NIV)

Glory in sufferings because of what is produced

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Rom. 5:3-4 NIV)

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” (Phil. 1:29 NIV)

If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” (1 Peter 3:14 NIV)

Becoming like Him

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Phil. 3:10 NIV)

To this you were called

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21 NIV)

God will restore you and make you strong

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10 NIV)

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24 NIV)

Death and life are in the tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov. 18:21 NASB)

Guard your mouth!

“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” (Prov. 13:3 NASB)

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” (Prov. 21:23 NASB)

The godless man destroys with words but the righteous will be delivered!

“With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.” (Prov. 11:9 NASB)

Listen and know what to say

“The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.” (Isa. 50:4 NASB)

Use ONLY gracious words!

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29 NASB)

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.“ (Psalm 46:1 NASB)

The Lord hears and delivers

“The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalms 34:17-19 NASB)

When trouble comes, call on Him

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me." (Psalm 50:15 NASB)

God will restore double for trouble!

“Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.” (Zech. 9:12 NIV)

“This is what the LORD says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jer. 6:16 NLT)

Seek the Lord continuously

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chron. 16:11 ESV)

Let God know your requests

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6 ESV)

Call to the Lord when distressed

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:5-6 ESV)

Call on God and He will tell you things you do not know

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3 NIV)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deut. 6:5 ESV)

Seek Him first

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33 NASB)

Because you love God 

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NASB)

Do not worry about things

“And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31 NASB)

Do not be conformed to the world

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Therefore...

“Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Prov. 21:21 ESV)

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18 NIV)

God is rich in mercy

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph. 2:4-5 NIV)

God’s mercy and love is from old  

“Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” (Psalms 25:6-7 NIV)

Therefore…

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NIV)

In view of God’s mercy offer your bodies as a living sacrifice  

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Rom. 22:1 NIV)

 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1 ESV)

The things of God are spiritually understood

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14 ESV)

Test to discern the will of God

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

Test everything

“But test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thess. 5:21 ESV)

A man of understanding walks straight

“Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.” (Prov. 15:21 ESV)

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8 NIV)

God is our everlasting rock

“Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.” (Isaiah 26:4 NASB)

He sets your feet upon a rock

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” (Psalm 49:2 NASB)

We have an everlasting foundation

“When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” (Prov. 10:25 NASB)

 He establishes you according to the gospel

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past.” (Rom. 16:25 NASB)

Keep standing firm

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1 NASB)

We have an anchor of the soul

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.” (Heb. 6:19 NASB)

Stability of our faith in Christ

“For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Col. 2:5-7 NASB)

Firm until the end!

“For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” (Heb. 3:14 NASB)