Verse of the Day 10/30

 

2 Peter 1:5-7   For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, ⁶ knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, ⁷ godliness with brotherly affection,and brotherly affection with love.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

In today's society we see advertisements and people take various vitamins and all kinds of other supplements in their diets in the hope that they will help strengthen them, to maintain their health or even become healthier.  They will also exercise and follow all kinds of regimens to look better and to hopefully live longer more complete lives.

Our faith is not something that should be taken for granted.  Faith is not to be dormant, stagnant, buried somewhere to be dug up when we face sudden trials in our lives.  Today's verse remind us that we are to build on our faith, to add to it, supplement it by putting these actions into place - goodness, learning, self control, right living,  and brotherly love.  If we see these traits put into action in our lives you can be sure that your faith will grow. 

These are "character traits".  Henry Blackaby writes, "Christians are to be content with their circumstances, but not with their character. Until we are like Christ, we ought  to hunger for God to do more in our lives.  Here Peter promises that the Spirit will keep adding Christ-like qualities into our lives."

As The Message puts it, "don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given".  The Apostle Paul shared the same sentiment in Galatians 5.  As we experience His "gifts" and apply them in our lives, the added supplements will strengthen our faith.

Galatians 5:22-24The Message (MSG)

^22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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.