Faith That Keeps Growing

Believing, but not finished. The other disciple, whom Christians have long understood to be John, went into the tomb, “and he saw and believed” (20:8). Then John 20:9 says, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”

Both were true. John really believed. He also had a lot left to learn. Real faith can be young and still growing.

Not yet. The words as yet mean not yet. Not yet does not mean never. Understanding was on its way, and God would bring it at the right time.

Peter wondered. Luke says Peter “departed, marveling to himself at what had happened” (Luke 24:12). Peter was full of wonder about what God had done.

Jesus knew. On the night before the cross, Jesus told His disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).

Too much at once. To bear something is to carry it. The disciples could not carry every truth at once, just as a small child cannot carry a grown-up's heavy load. Jesus gave them what they could carry, and He kept the rest for later.

Step by step. A good teacher does not give a first grader the hardest lesson on the first day. Jesus taught His friends step by step, and after He rose, they understood more and more.

More was coming. Jesus did not stop there. He promised that the Holy Spirit would come and lead them into the truth (John 16:13).

Trust first. Jesus once told Peter that he did not understand yet but would know later (John 13:7). You do not have to understand everything about God before you trust Jesus. A little child trusts a loving parent long before understanding everything the parent does.

God is patient. God does not throw away a small faith. Jesus welcomed people who came to Him with weak faith, and He helped them grow.

Jesus keeps teaching. Jesus did not leave His friends where they were. He met them, taught them and gave them His Spirit.

Start with the center. Start with what is clear: Jesus died for our sins, and God raised Him from the dead. Everything else you learn grows from there.

What this means for you. Trust Jesus today with what you know. Keep reading God's Word, and expect to understand more as you grow.

From the tomb to the temple. Not long after that morning, “Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer” (Acts 3:1). The two who once ran to an empty tomb now went together to serve the risen Lord.

Bold. Later the leaders “saw the boldness of Peter and John” (Acts 4:13).

What changed? They had seen the risen Lord, they had received the Holy Spirit, and they had kept learning from Jesus. Their faith had grown.

Peter grew. The Peter who once said he did not know Jesus now spoke about Him boldly.

Peter's letter. Peter later wrote a letter that begins, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:1). In it he told believers, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

Like a baby. A hungry baby wants milk and keeps asking for it. Peter says to want God's Word like that.

Milk and solid food. Hebrews speaks to believers who had stayed small: “you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). Then it says, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age” (Hebrews 5:14).

Growing up. God does not want His children to stay babies forever. He wants them to grow strong, so they can know right from wrong and help others.

Grow up into Him. Paul wrote that believers, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Christ is the head, and growing means becoming more like Him.

Growing together. Paul says believers grow by speaking the truth in love. We help one another grow when we tell each other what is true, kindly.

Growing takes time. A seed does not become a tree in a day. God is patient with His children, and He is patient with you.

Growing shows. When faith grows, it shows in how you love God and other people. You become braver, kinder and more honest, because the Holy Spirit is making you like Jesus.

Ways to grow. Read the Bible, pray, listen to good teaching and spend time with other believers. These are like food for your faith.

The gospel at the root. All this growing starts with the cross and the empty tomb. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, and everyone who trusts Him receives a new life that can grow.

What this means for you. If you trust Jesus, ask Him to help you grow. Feed on His Word every day, and you will become more like Him.