For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  

 

This passage tells us for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith certain qualities. For what very reason? The reason that is mentioned in vs. four, "He has given us very great and precious promises so we can participate in the divine nature and escape corruption in the world." 

     

Because God has given to us Himself, His power, and His Holy Spirit, now don't just sit there.  Get growing! In case you don't get it, Peter is saying the Christian life is going to take some effort.  It will take diligence and it will take work on our part to keep growing.  Where do we begin?  With faith. After faith what’s next?

 

Peter mentions seven things to add to our very precious faith. The first character quality mentioned is “goodness”.  KJV says “virtue”. NASB says “moral excellence”. In other words, work at being moral in a bold a courageous manner. Stand up for what is right. When people all around us say, "It really doesn't make any difference how you live.", know that is not what God's Word teaches. It does make a difference how you live. There is a responsibility to live our lives different than non-Christians live their lives.

 

In the day in which Peter was writing there was tremendous persecutions. Christians needed courage to do what was right even if they had to pay for it. To the Jewish people, being a Christian was regarded as renegade, an apostate, unpatriotic, and profane. To the Greek people, a Christian was regarded as a fool and fanatic. There are many in our culture who think it’s a good thing to go to church, but let’s not go overboard in lifestyle.  To live with goodness means living morally pure; it means not cheating on tests; it means not to lie to make sales and it means to be a person of integrity. It means to be moral and do what is good and right.

 

Secondly, Peter mentions knowledge. This means practical knowledge, not just facts.  Don't stop learning about Jesus and what is in His word. We grow as we get into this Book and as the Holy Spirit causes us to mature in full knowledge of Christ. Phil. 4:8 “think on what is pure, lovely, good, gracious and the peace of God will rule inside.”

The Bible is to be read more than by the preacher or SS teacher on Sunday mornings. Read it as part of daily practice and pray about what you read and how to apply it. God will use this spiritual diet to cause you to grow in your faith.  Even if it is just a few verses to think about, it will help you.

 

One person was having trouble comprehending what he read. His pastor advised him to pick a small book or few chapters and read them over and over again regularly for one month.  The man took his advice. He couldn't believe all the things God wanted to show him.  Some things he didn't pick up until the 10th reading, others later. Pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten your mind, and practice what He shows you.

 

Thirdly, add to your knowledge, self-control. We live amidst passion and selfishness in society. Lots of emphasis is placed on individual gratification and lustful pleasures. We all need a good dose of self-control. It is so easy to let our emotions and desires control us instead of our minds and spirits controlling our desires.  

I talked to a young man who filed for bankruptcy because spending got so out of hand. It wasn’t because of losing a job or the economic downturn; it was a lack of self-control. He and his wife kept up the habit of spending more than what they could take in. When they went shopping, they had a hard time saying no to purchases they could not afford. Soon debt overwhelmed them and they couldn’t pay their creditors.  Self-control is learning to say “No.” to spending what you want if you do not have the money. Impulsive buying is a lack of self-control. So are fits of anger, drunkenness, chemical abuse, sexual immorality, wagging tongues, and poor habits are all related to lack of self-control.

 

I am sure none of us can score 100% on feeling we have completely arrived in the character of goodness, knowledge, and self-control, but are you allowing God to work on those traits in your life or are you trying on your own? What steps are you taking to grow in these areas? We need the encouragement of one another on this journey.

 

 Dale