Yesterday we shared scriptures from 2 Peter 1, today I want to go a little deeper into those scriptures.
2 Peter 1: 4-11 says; by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 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. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A few weeks ago, I was studying this passage of scriptures when a portion of this scripture jumped out at me. The part I am speaking of says ‘you will be neither barren nor unfruitful.’ Wow. Think about this for a moment, if we follow this particular set of scriptures, the word of God says, ‘we will not be unfruitful nor will we be barren.’
We begin by giving all diligence, just as we talked about yesterday, then we add to our faith, virtue. Virtue is defined as a course of thought, feeling and action of moral goodness.
Add to your virtue, knowledge. Knowledge is defined as a knowledge or understanding of the word of God. We get this through studying the word of God and asking God for wisdom.
Add to your knowledge, temperance or self-control. I think we all know what self-control is and we all have the ability to walk in it if we choose.
Add to your self-control, perseverance. Perseverance is defined as steadfastness, consistency and endurance. It is waiting patiently and steadfastly for the promise to manifest. It is refusing to quit. It is having a ‘I am going to see the promise of God and nothing will stop it’ attitude.
Add to perseverance, godliness. Godliness is defined as reverence and respect toward God and His word.
Add to godliness, brotherly kindness. This one is simple. It simply means to love and cherish your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Add to brotherly kindness, love. Love, or charity, as the King James version calls it, is defined as brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence. Did you know every time you give to someone you are displaying love? I just love that.
Therefore, if we possess diligence, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love, the word of God says we will live a fruitful and abundant life.
This scripture also says if we have these things we will abound in KNOWING the Lord Jesus Christ! Verse 10 goes on to say when we possess these things we will NEVER STUMBLE.
Finally, this word of God says not only will we not stumble, but an entrance will be supplied to us ABUNDANTLY into the Kingdom of God.
This is a set of scriptures that I read a lot lately, I want to live a fruitful life! I want to intimately know Jesus! I want to never again stumble and God has shown me the way to walk in all these things!
I would highly recommend you begin to pray and declare that these attributes are in your daily life, are in your heart and flowing out of you. I know I am doing just that. I choose to walk in diligence, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love, all the days of my life. I choose fruitfulness and abounding in God, how about you?
Prayer for Today: Father, help us daily walk in these things you have shown us in 2 Peter 1. We long to know you and walk with you and be fruitful in you God. Help us do just that, in Jesus name. Amen.
