Little By Little

... knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness.... - 2 Peter 1:6

When a person is taking on a new language, there are three words that that he or she will hear repeatedly. The words are, "little by little." These words are spoken as a means of encouragement, because though the language learner may not "feel" like progress is being made, improvement eventually comes, "little by little."

Peter employs the same thought process here by directing followers of Jesus to take the qualities that have been generated by the Spirit's presence and to apply them to life like building blocks. The result being, as in language acquisition, greater usefulness in God's kingdom, little by little. Sanctification is both instantaneous and progressive for the regenerate, but our participation is still required.

Progress in spiritual growth may not be visible on a daily basis, nor may the gains be as immediately discernible as we might hope, but they will come if we stay the course.

A religion of effortless adoration may be a religion for an angel but never for a man. Not in the contemplative, but in the active, lies true hope; not in rapture, but in reality, lies true life; not in the realm of ideals, but among tangible things, is man's sanctification wrought. - Henry Drummond