LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Peter 1: 5-7, But also for this 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, brotherly kindness love. For all of these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I am having to do some self-evaluation when writing about these verses. Are you? We have commented on being diligent, and adding seven characteristics to our faith. We looked at virtue, knowledge, and self-control. What does today have for us? You do know I am learning while studying and writing about these characteristics, right?

 

When Peter writes about perseverance, he is talking about patience and persevering in the face of difficulties as we walk on the narrow way to eternal life in God’s kingdom. Do not ever forget that Jesus said the narrow way was a difficult way. Even with difficulties a mature Christian does not give up. Perseverance strengthens the Christian to face unpleasant circumstances because they have hope of the good coming. Perseverance in the face of difficulty builds the character that God wants in us. So, we persevere in the circumstances and trials we face!

 

Godliness is acting and being like God; it is taking on and imitating His characteristics. When Paul wrote to Timothy, he told him to pursue godliness. It is being light to a dark world; living in such a way that people know something is different about you and want to know what it is. Godliness is imitating God, loving what He loves and hating what He hates.

 

The closer we walk with God, the more we imitate Him the more compassion we will have towards others. Love along with faith is the supreme mark of our Christianity. The DJSB tells us “Everything originates in faith and culminates in love”. When we reach out in brotherly love, we are reaching out with grace and mercy; just as our Father reaches out to you and me with His love, mercy, and grace.

 

Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). The Greek word for love is agape which means a deep and sacrificial love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstances. It is God’s love for man.

 

I doubt any of us will become perfect in the characteristics Peter writes of. However, we strive and are diligent to do so. When we are diligent about adding them to our faith, our walk on the narrow way is more consistent with God’s character. We have greater endurance to be stronger in the difficult times and we are better able to resist temptation. The old habits of life even lose their grip on our life because new and profitable habits replace them.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible