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We may not always recognize the influence our faith has on others. Sometimes it is the simple, everyday expressions of faithfulness that make the greatest difference.

Sometimes we can spend so much time learning about our faith that we forget the importance of practicing what we already know.

It is often easier to connect with people who think like we do. We may share similar backgrounds, experiences, interests, or perspectives. However, one of the blessings of the church is that God brings together people who are different.

We often think about spiritual growth as something personal. We read our Bibles, spend time in prayer, and work on developing better spiritual habits. These practices are important, but God never intended for us to grow alone.

Paul describes our transformation in Christ with a familiar picture, that of changing clothes. We are called to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:22, 24, NIV).

Change can be difficult. We become comfortable with familiar routines, familiar ways of thinking, and even familiar understandings of our faith. Yet, if we desire to grow, we must be willing to change.

Most things that are important to us require some level of intentionality. Healthy relationships need our attention. Learning requires time and effort. Even maintaining our physical health requires us to make choices about how we live. The same is true of our faith.

When we think about growing in our faith, we may immediately think about what we need to do. We may think we need to pray more, study more, serve more, or develop better habits. These things are important, but Peter begins somewhere else.