GROW IN GRACE OR STAGNAT IN SIGHTLESSNESS

GROW IN GRACE OR STAGNANT IN SIGHTLESSNESS

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ 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. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ¹² Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. —II Peter 1:1-15

            We only have faith “by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”  As we grow in our relationship with God we will understand more and more of His grace and peace.  May we understand more and more those provisions to live a godly life He called us to.  Oh, He has given us great and precious promises, allowing us to take part in His divine nature and rescuing us from the corruption in the world… and it is easy to see that corruption in our world because of sinful desires.  Oh, that we would grow to be more and more like our Savior each and every day that we have to live.

            Because He has done so much for us we are to supplement our faith with:

• Virtue or goodness— let us be and do what is good in God’s sight.
• Knowledge— let us be growing in knowing Him and His desires.
• Self-control— let us be disciplined in His desires, not selfish desires.
• Steadfastness or perseverance/endurance— run the race life-long.
• Godliness— let us seek to imitate our God and His ways in our lives.
• Brotherly love— let us be loving those in the family of God.
• Love— may love for God and people to our motivation in life.

Having these qualities will cause us to be effective and fruitful in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus.  Without them we will be nearsighted, blind and forgetful of having been cleansed from our former sins.  Confidence comes from practicing these qualities.  Remember and remind others of these qualities while we have time.  Yes, stir ourselves and others up in these areas.  Yes, Dear Father, please help me to be growing in these areas and encourage others as well.  May it be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Precious Son and my Lord Jesus. https://youtu.be/bo9ZWX1lEKI?t=1031