Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 1:5-11
I am trying to appropriate God’s promises in my life. They are magnificent and they give me the ability to live this life in a way that is pleasing to Him. But, I have my part too. The apostle Peter says that I should add the following to my faith: moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love! The neat thing is… that when I am growing in these ‘qualities’ (which are really just Christlike characteristics), I will find myself very useful in God’s kingdom. As I practice them- I will not stumble and God’s opens the entrance into His eternal kingdom. Wow! But, if I neglect His promises and lack diligence it reveals that I am very short-sighted (focused only on the here and now), even blind to the reality of the life to come.
What qualities are growing in my life? How has God made me useful in His kingdom? Am I continuing to stumble or do I find victory in my life?
God, as this day begins- I am so excited about what it will contain. I am going to consider all the Christlike character qualities that You are developing in me, and diligently let Your Holy Spirit do His work in me. Help me to never stumble and I long for the day You open up Your kingdom completely to me.
