Not Cruise Control: Growing in Jesus Through Faith, Effort, and Abiding

The Christian life was never meant to be lived on cruise control. We don’t just add Jesus to our lives as if He’s an accessory — He becomes the very life that flows through us. We are called to abide in Him, and through that abiding, His life is expressed through our actions, thoughts, and character. The book of 2 Peter gives us a powerful blueprint for spiritual growth — not through striving, but through resting in Him, and from that place of rest, diligently pressing in to grow.

It Begins With Faith — But Faith Isn’t Passive

2 Peter 1:5 says, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…” Notice that word: effort. Growth begins with faith, but it requires your participation. Not dead works or religious performance, but intentional pursuit. Faith is the currency of the Kingdom. It’s how we receive, move, and respond to God.

But hear this: we don’t begin with effort alone. It starts with prayer. True faith is birthed in the place of communion with God. Romans 10:17 tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Many stop at this verse and limit it strictly to reading the Bible — and while the written Word is foundational and non-negotiable, it doesn’t stop there. Hearing by the Word means allowing God to speak through His Word and in His Spirit.

Katherine Kuhlman, a woman known for her deep intimacy with the Holy Spirit, stirred her faith by reading the Book of Martyrs. It inspired her to believe for more. Some might say, “You only need the Bible,” but we must understand — the Bible is the measuring stick. It’s our foundation, our anchor, our guardrails. But within its pages, we are invited to know the God who still speaks. Stories of past revivalists, missionaries, and modern-day “generals of the faith” aren’t equal to Scripture, but they stir us toward greater hunger when filtered through it.

2 Peter Shows Us How to Bear Fruit

Peter’s words are practical and progressive. He lays out how faith is not static — it grows and multiplies through spiritual discipline and intimacy. We’re not meant to be saved and stagnant. We’re meant to grow in maturity, to bear much fruit. As 2 Peter 1:8 says:

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It’s not just about believing in Jesus — it’s about becoming like Him. The more we abide in the vine (John 15), the more fruit is produced through us. The more we grow in the characteristics outlined in 2 Peter — virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love — the more Christ is revealed through our lives.

This lines up perfectly with what Paul writes in Ephesians 4:

“…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood…” (Ephesians 4:12–13)

Peter tells us how to grow. Paul tells us why we grow — for the building up of the Church and for the display of Christ’s fullness in the earth.

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul reminds us:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

You were not saved to sit still. You were saved, filled, equipped, and sent — to walk in good works, bear fruit, and reflect the nature of Jesus.

From Faith to Fruitfulness — Step by Step

Let’s revisit the steps in 2 Peter:

1.

Virtue (Goodness)

If we are now citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), and if every good and perfect gift comes from the Father (James 1:17), then goodness should naturally flow from our mouths and deeds. This isn’t just morality — this is God’s character being formed in us. Our new nature reflects His. Our lives should be marked by goodness that the world can see.

2.

Knowledge

Biblical knowledge is not just knowing facts or memorizing verses. It’s about knowing Him. The Word of God leads us into encounters with the Living Word — Jesus. And from knowing Him, we walk in wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge applied. It’s the fruit of intimacy and obedience. But Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:2 that knowledge without love is empty: “If I have… all knowledge… but do not have love, I am nothing.”

3.

Self-Control, Perseverance, Godliness

As we progress, we begin to grow in self-control and perseverance. These aren’t things we can manufacture. They are fruits of the Spirit, formed in us through abiding. Trials don’t create our character — they reveal it. But in every test, we have an opportunity to reflect God’s holiness. There is always a way out that honors Him (1 Cor. 10:13). Godliness — a reverent, holy fear of the Lord — becomes the aroma of our lives.

4.

Brotherly Affection and Love

It ends where all things in the Kingdom lead: love. Love is the highest mark of spiritual maturity. Without love, we’re just noise. It’s easy to love the loveable, but brotherly affection — loving those closest to us — is where the rubber meets the road. And agape love, God’s love, goes even further — it loves our enemies, it lays down rights, and it seeks the good of others above self.

Final Thoughts: Equipped to Bear Fruit

2 Peter doesn’t just give us a list of Christian traits — it equips us with a roadmap to fruitfulness. And Ephesians confirms that God has given us everything we need to walk it out. We have the Spirit. We have the Word. We have the body of Christ to encourage and strengthen us. And we have the call — to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

So no, we don’t live on cruise control. The Christian life isn’t about coasting — it’s about resting in Christ while making every effort to grow in Him. These two are not opposites. They go hand in hand. We rest in the finished work of Jesus, but we press in so that His life can be fully formed in us.

You’re not called to strive in the flesh — you’re called to abide in the Spirit.

You’re not just incorporating Jesus into your life — He is your life.

So let your roots go deep. Feed on the Word. Listen for His voice. Be stirred by the testimonies of saints before you. Let your faith grow into fruitfulness — and let the world taste and see that the Lord is good.