2 Peter 1: 5 For this very reason do
your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge; 6 to your knowledge add
self-control; to your self-control add endurance; to your endurance add
godliness; 7 to your godliness add
Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love. 8 These are the qualities you
need, and if you have them in abundance, they will make you active and
effective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if you do not have them,
you are so shortsighted that you cannot see and have forgotten that you have
been purified from your past sins.
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After learning the
basics I felt pretty good about myself. It was very hard to get over the hump
of learning the basics and I felt I deserved to remain right where I was. “Now
we want you to learn this other thing” was the challenging statement.
- I was worn out just learning the basics.
- I did not think I needed to go any further than the basics.
- I felt I was doing enough by simply doing the basics.
Peter challenges
believers to go further than “faith” in JESUS. He may have seen behaviors that
seemed childish when it came to spiritual growth. His challenge was to add
goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, Christian affection
and love. He also challenged everyone to be “active and effective.”
My Observations:
- Accepting JESUS as my Savior was the beginning of my faith.
- GOD wants me to grow up by adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, Christian affection and love.
- GOD also wants me to not think more highly of myself so I can point people to HIM for the remainder of my life.
Wanting to feel
like I have arrived is a problem. I mean, instead of reaching a point, in my walk
with GOD, that I think I have done enough and learned enough and I can just
coast; I should constantly look for ways to grow in the LORD.
GOD expects HIS
children to grow. HE knows the huge responsibility that is out in the world and
HE needs people who are willing to do more than the basics of belief in JESUS.
HE wants “Active and Effective” believers to seek HIS kingdom. I am willing to
grow in the LORD by adding these things.
Challenge
- What is the opposite of the writer’s appeal to be “Active and Effective?”
- Have you ever thought you have arrived with CHRIST?
- Will you continue to grow spiritually so you can be “Active and Effective” in growing GOD’s kingdom today?
