Verse of the Day 11/30

 

2 Peter 1:5-7For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

You can probably recall seeing news stories where a soldier who had been held captive by another state, when returning home and steps off of the plane, bends down and kisses the ground, being thankful that he is "home".  They have escaped with their lives and most likely would not want to go back to where they have been.

 

In today's passage Peter is reminding his readers that in believing, in putting their faith in Christ they have escaped from the corruption of the world (v.4).  They have received the truth and the truth has set them free (John 8:32).  He then goes on to encourage and challenge them to grow in their faith. He calls them and us to do this by complementing their  "basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others." 

 

This is not a checklist but each on "fits in" and helps develop the others.  In gratitude and with thanksgiving for having been set free, may we be making an effort, to "complement" our faith with these things, and follow in His steps.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

2 Peter 1:5-9The Message (MSG)

^5-9 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.