We rightly expect children to grow up. We expect them to develop at a particular rate, along an expected and proven trajectory, and with predictable and visible results. So anticipatory is their maturation, in fact, that, when it fails to occur, there’s often sadness, disappointment, or concern.
As Christians, we need to understand that what we expect for our physical children God likewise expects for his spiritual children. To this end, the Bible contains multiple calls to spiritual growth and development (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 13:11; 14:20; Hebrews 5:12–13). Once an individual is saved and brought into the household of God by means of trusting Jesus Christ for eternal life they are then expected to begin the lifelong process of God-dependant, God-equipped spiritual maturation. And, as Peter begins his second letter, this is exactly the topic he tackles.
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Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
