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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1: 5 – 7 [NIV]
How do we grow in our faith? Peter gives us a list of seven qualities – from goodness to love – which will help us become mature in Christ.
We do not have to think of the qualities as being in a sequence; they are not in any particular order. So we don’t have to have mastered goodness before we move on to knowledge, for example. But the goal at the end of the list is love, the most important virtue for a Christian to have. So we all start our Christian lives with faith and move in the direction of love – love for God and for each other; and the other six qualities are our stepping stones in maturity.
But do notice Peter’s words in verse 5: make every effort to add to your faith. This growth in the Christian life is not just going to happen; we need to work at it! As we saw yesterday, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we need to put ourselves in the place where we can cooperate with the Spirit. Growth needs both the Spirit’s fullness and our active cooperation.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1Peter 2: 2 [NIV]
Lord, please help me to cooperate with your Holy Spirit as he helps me towards maturity.
David Long
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