My study has taken me into 2 Peter.
I noticed that the "knowledge of God" is mentioned 5 times in the first 8 verses. Throughout the entire chapter, Peter speaks of the things they know as he is reminding the saints of them. He ends the chapter with the certain truth that the scripture is Divinely inspired. Therefore, to know it (the Bible), is to gain understanding in the knowledge of God. I'm pretty certain that to have the knowledge of God is key to the Christian life! Wouldn't you agree?
2Peter 1:2-8 "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, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.
For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Breaking verses 5-8 down -
Make every effort - be earnest, diligent
Add to your faith, virtue ( moral excellence) not just the everyday good morals. High standards of Godly living.
Add to virtue, knowledge - (1Tim. 2:15 Study!)
Add to knowledge, self-control - thoughts, words, deeds, actions and reactions
Add to self-control, steadfastness (perseverance, patience) - keep it up daily, day after day, week after week, month after...
Add to self-control, godliness - (Christ likeness, holiness)
Add to godliness, brotherly affection - kind ministering to the family of God
Add to brotherly affection, love - fervent stretched out love, giving totally of yourself to others
Doing these things will keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
For me personally, that's a very tall list. How about you? Let's make every effort though to do these things. By His grace and His divine power these things can be practiced in our lives.
One of the most wonderful things about our Lord is that when we do stumble and fall - or just plain mess up, He is merciful and forgives. His grace says, get up, keep going. Press on, don't give up. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Matthew 28:20
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6 comments:
Oh, Marti, that is so good! I love how the Word of God is so practical and so encouraging. We need to MAKE EVERY EFFORT, just like the Word says, to add these things to our lives. Fruit in the Christian life does not just happen, and growth isn't always easy to go through. But praise the Lord that He will continue to work in us, and continue to encourage us to press on!
Is this working?
Okay, it is...
Thank you for the reminder and encouragement to keep on. It's always good to hear it again!
So Marti, check out our responses to your comment on my blog...it's your turn!
People should read this.
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