Add to Your Faith: Part 1

For this very reason, 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, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, 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 whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 2:5-11

   This passage has been repeating itself in my head a lot the past couple of weeks. It’s one of those that I’ve heard many times, and I know it, but it just recently stuck.

   There are seven qualities that Peter mentions in this passage that must be added to our faith if we are to grow and be fruitful before God. Seven traits that, if we are willing to work hard to obtain, will bring us closer to Him and keeps us from stumbling. I am going to split these up into two parts. I will briefly cover each quality, and give a referencing verse. This first part will be the first 4 qualities…

Goodness

Whoever walks in integrity (or uprightly) walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
-Proverbs 10:9

The first quality Peter mentions is goodness. I think this one is pretty self explanatory. Walk in goodness. Do what is right. Be virtuous. Do what is pleasing to the Lord. He is not asking us to be perfect here. He is asking us to strive to live a life free of sin. And no, it is not possible for us as humans to be completely free of sin. But that should not stop us from being the best we can for God.

Knowledge

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

-Proverbs 18:15

   The second quality mentioned is Knowledge. Not just a general knowledge, but knowledge of what is right and wrong; discernment.

   Look at Solomon in 1 Kings 3. He became king at a very young age. Nobody really knows, but most guess around 11 or 12. So he was just a child when he had to lead an entire nation. What little he knew about being a king was from watching his father, David.

   Solomon understood that this was a problem. One day, the Lord appeared to him in a dream. He asked him “What do you want me to give you?” Solomon’s answer…was wisdom. He says:

 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.  So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (vv7-9)

   Judging by that answer, Solomon already had a considerable amount of wisdom at such a young age. He asked for wisdom and knowledge; to distinguish between right and wrong. This pleased God so much, that God not only made him the wisest man ever, but also blessed him with riches and honor.

   And that is the type of knowledge we should strive for. We are called to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

Self Control

Like a city whose walls are broken through, is a person who lacks self-control.

-Proverbs 25:28

   Third on the list is self control. In 1 Corinthians Paul likens it to a race (9:24-27). Anybody competing in a race must undergo a lot of training. You don’t just wake up that day, ready to run. You must practice; discipline your body every day. A boxer does not just jump into the ring, punching at the air, hoping to strike a blow by pure luck. He trains vigorously. He practices his punches over and over again, so that he knows when he does get in that ring, every punch he throws is going to hit its mark.

   And that is how we are to live. We must discipline our own bodies. We must make it our slaves. Like Paul says in verse 27, “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

   Keep your eye on the prize, train your body and mind. Do not give in to temptation.

Perseverance

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.

-James 1:12

   Perseverance is more than just having patience, which I know is difficult as it is. It is having the right attitude while you wait. It is continuing in the faith and trusting God, even when everything is falling apart around you.

   God says we are to count it all joy when we are under trial. (James 1:2). When we go through trials, it produces steadfastness.

   Picture a huge storm. Rain is pouring down, wind is blowing, and all these houses are being torn apart. But there is one, in the middle of the town, that is still standing when the storm is over. It was built with the right materials and on the right foundation. That is how we are to be. Stay strong, stand firm…the storm will end.

   Well this is it for part 1. I promise I will try to have part 2 out sometime next week, where I will cover the last 3 qualities: Godliness, Mutual Affection, and Love.

   Please don’t forget to subscribe by email, and share these posts with your friends and family.

May the Lord bless,

-Justin