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2 Peter 1:12-13 was refered to me today by a friend. What caught my eye however, was this highlighted verse from the last time I went through this book. God’s spoken to me tonight and I’ll share it with you if you permit. (What I mean is just click on the continue reading thing la)

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 peter 5: 5-11

A short summary so as not to sound preachy. In order of appearance

1. Faith
2. Virtue
3. Knowledge
4. Self-control
5. Perseverance
6. Godliness
7. BrotherlyKindness

A preceeding attribute becomes justified and useful when the following is applied to it. I feel I’m at the knowledge state and haven’t applied self-control, perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness to it. Though they are listed in order, the Life Application Bible suggests that it comes altogether and that it is not a process and/or a level by level thing. Both ways, if anything from this list is missing - its not ideal.

Lets see the results of having all these through the grace which God provides us

8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:8

As usual, the condition followed by promise pattern I observed previously comes into play. Cool eh? We will never be barren and unfruitful. Of course the flipside in 2 Peter 1:9 which currently applies to me is

9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

2 Peter 1:9

Ouch.. I’m shortsighted, even to blindness. The direct symptom that indicates the disease is also stated.. that I would forget that I have been cleansed from my old sins.

Sometimes I am merciless when I talk about the things people do which were once things I dwelt in (and slip into still). Especially with regard to talking about people who have nothing to do with what I am talking about. Its totally anti-unity and I confess that. Thank God we’re all still in the making, works in progress and he’s been so loving and patient with us. Shouldn’t we do the same? Was reading an article about how love and growth in a church are directly related. Of course, the fine points are arguable but the 2 greatest commandments (in Jesus’s opinion) are clear!

34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’^[d] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[e] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:34-39

In other words, on LOVE for first God then others the entire bible and commands are based upon.

So.. for me this means

• Applying my knowledge in a loving manner (thats crazy hard man)
• Remembering that the real motive for everything is edification and Godliness

What about you dear reader? perhaps a brother/sister in christ?
Okay, I’m done. Suprised you made it to the bottom. Feel free to give an amen/boo if you agree/disagree!

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 12:53 am and is filed under Sharing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.