“But also for
this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Peter
1:5-8 NKJ)
this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Peter
1:5-8 NKJ)
The phone rang, but
my caller ID reported it as an “unknown name, unknown number.” I
answered it and a young lady identified herself and the company she was with.
My name had come up on their list as a preferred customer to receive all the
savings of lower priced phone services.
my caller ID reported it as an “unknown name, unknown number.” I
answered it and a young lady identified herself and the company she was with.
My name had come up on their list as a preferred customer to receive all the
savings of lower priced phone services.
I have heard pastors
brag about how they don’t give the telemarketers the time of day. I’ve heard
otherwise godly people smirk about how they “told off” some
unsuspecting marketer and slammed the phone down. They seem to think such
behavior is both acceptable and justified. Now, I am not some ultra-holy person
bragging about treating people respectfully and so forth. Instead, I simply try
to follow the Lord’s model and example seen everywhere in Scripture.
brag about how they don’t give the telemarketers the time of day. I’ve heard
otherwise godly people smirk about how they “told off” some
unsuspecting marketer and slammed the phone down. They seem to think such
behavior is both acceptable and justified. Now, I am not some ultra-holy person
bragging about treating people respectfully and so forth. Instead, I simply try
to follow the Lord’s model and example seen everywhere in Scripture.
After explaining to
this sales lady that I wasn’t interested, she asked in mock unbelief,
“You’re not interested in saving money?” Calmly I replied, “My
dear young lady, if I had all the money salespeople have claimed to have saved
me over the years, I would be in such a comfortable financial position that I
wouldn’t be worried about saving money. So, you have a good evening.” Then
I quietly ended the call.
this sales lady that I wasn’t interested, she asked in mock unbelief,
“You’re not interested in saving money?” Calmly I replied, “My
dear young lady, if I had all the money salespeople have claimed to have saved
me over the years, I would be in such a comfortable financial position that I
wouldn’t be worried about saving money. So, you have a good evening.” Then
I quietly ended the call.
People have all
sorts of “reasons” for their personal preferences, perspectives and
actions. In a church I once served, a dear lady brusquely stated, “You’ll
just have to accept me like I am because this is how God made me.” I trust
that you can see the error of her thinking without a three-point sermon. She
seemed to have forgotten that the works of the flesh are not of God.
sorts of “reasons” for their personal preferences, perspectives and
actions. In a church I once served, a dear lady brusquely stated, “You’ll
just have to accept me like I am because this is how God made me.” I trust
that you can see the error of her thinking without a three-point sermon. She
seemed to have forgotten that the works of the flesh are not of God.
In today’s Scripture
passage, Peter refers his readers to “this very reason” as the point
for adding virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly
kindness and love to the faith they already possess. What is the reason? In
verse three he tells us that Jesus Christ has “given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness.” And in verse four, Peter continues to
explain that through Christ we have “exceedingly great and precious
promises” which enable us to “be partakers of the divine nature”
and escape worldly lusts and their resulting corruption.
passage, Peter refers his readers to “this very reason” as the point
for adding virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly
kindness and love to the faith they already possess. What is the reason? In
verse three he tells us that Jesus Christ has “given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness.” And in verse four, Peter continues to
explain that through Christ we have “exceedingly great and precious
promises” which enable us to “be partakers of the divine nature”
and escape worldly lusts and their resulting corruption.
It is “for this
very reason,” Peter says, that we should grow in the Lord, adding all
these elements to our faith in Christ. “for if these things are yours and
abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (v.8). The inference is that without them we will be barren and
unfruitful. You see, courtesy and respect is more about my relationship with
Christ than about other people.
very reason,” Peter says, that we should grow in the Lord, adding all
these elements to our faith in Christ. “for if these things are yours and
abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (v.8). The inference is that without them we will be barren and
unfruitful. You see, courtesy and respect is more about my relationship with
Christ than about other people.
Dear Father, thank
you for hearing and answering when I call. Empower me to respond to others like
you respond to me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for hearing and answering when I call. Empower me to respond to others like
you respond to me. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be fruitful in
Christ today,
Christ today,