Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Holy Uprising - Tue Mar 16

Make Every Effort

2 Peter 1:5-9

"…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. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

- Goodness

- Knowledge

- Self-control

- Perseverance

- Godliness

- Brotherly kindness

- Love

“Make every effort” to add the above seven characteristics onto our faith. What gives me pause is the phrase, “make every effort.” It is easy to look at these characteristics and acknowledge that these are important or even that we already possess some of them. However, do I make every effort to have them in “increasing measure?"

Am I really seeking these godly values as much as I'm seeking other things in life?

These characteristics have huge ramifications! What do the verses say about the person who possesses these characteristics? Read it again and look. How about the person who does not?

Do I want to be a person who is effective and productive in the knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ? Or, do I want to be nearsighted and blind, forgetting what I’ve been forgiven from? Put it this way and it is easy to answer. The former of course! Now, asking myself, am I making every effort to increase the above characteristics onto my faith?

John Ortberg, in this book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat says, “We are too often double espresso followers of a decaf Sovereign.” Applying Ortberg’s quote to today’s devotional, we often feel that this list is way too overwhelming. Really, who can have all these qualities?

But look at the passage. God is not demanding perfection. He's using Peter to exhort believers (including us) to “make every effort” to have these qualities in “increasing measure.” We might not be able to double espresso ourselves to having the above list completed in our hearts and minds quickly, but over time, slowly, the Holy Spirit can develop these qualities in our life as we lean into God.

So, today, how are you making every effort to possess these qualities in increasing measure? Think through how you can change your thoughts, actions, and heart in small ways today.
Repentance remember is not just a change of mind - but a change of mind that leads to a change of action. We quit believing in what we can do and begin believing God's promises.

Start today and have God's perspective. Faith + time = Transformation. And before you know it, in a month or a year, you will possess greater amounts of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love added to your faith.

No comments: