Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:8 (New Living Translation)
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is a call to be productive and useful. Well, sort of. Peter writes about a growth from faith to love through steps that enrich a person’s life in Christ. Growing as Peter describes helps make me productive and useful. I cannot, however, drop the last phrase from that sentence:

I won’t necessarily be more productive at work. I won’t necessarily be more useful in the community. I will be more productive and useful in my knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I will know Jesus Christ better. This will lead to a better life for me and for those around me. I like that idea. I want that in my life. Please God, help me as I grow in the way Peter describes.