While all of us ought to see evidence of marked growth in our knowledge of God, our relationship with him, and our obedience to him, none of us ever evolves beyond our need for the ordinary means of grace. We never “level up” to such a degree that we gain access to some hidden extraordinary means of grace. We begin the Christian life by building habits that will foster our relationship with God, and these very disciplines are meant to sustain us to the end.
John Piper once said, “One measure of the greatness of a man is not only that he practices what he preaches, but also that he doesn’t consider himself above the ordinary means of grace that all Christians need.” Piper talks about the measure of the greatness of a man (or woman), and we know from the Bible that true greatness is marked by humility, for “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
The humble Christian receives these means of grace as undeserved kindness from God for his growth and joy and perseverance. He never allows himself to think he has so mastered them or so mastered the Christian faith that he is no longer fully and utterly dependent upon such simple, wonderful, ordinary means. As John Newton wrote, “Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
