Make An Effort
March 15, 2015//
Topics to Dig Into
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Peter 1:5-8 (NLT) In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s
promises. Supplement your faith with a
generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and
patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection and
brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be
in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Phew! That’s a long
list!
list!
Let’s break down the progression of character development.
Start with moral excellence.
What does God require of believers?
My confirmation students say “Be a good person.” That’s a good start, but it’s not the goal.
What does God require of believers?
My confirmation students say “Be a good person.” That’s a good start, but it’s not the goal.
Add knowledge. Know
God through His Word. Experience His
presence and work in your life. Hear His
Voice. You’ll come to understand His
desire for your life and be able to control yourself, endure hardship, and wait
with greater patience. You’ll become
more like Christ who exhibited a unique love for His followers and every
individual, regardless of their beliefs, social standing, or lifestyle. Unconditional love is the goal.
God through His Word. Experience His
presence and work in your life. Hear His
Voice. You’ll come to understand His
desire for your life and be able to control yourself, endure hardship, and wait
with greater patience. You’ll become
more like Christ who exhibited a unique love for His followers and every
individual, regardless of their beliefs, social standing, or lifestyle. Unconditional love is the goal.
This growth from simple morality to godly love requires work. Peter frames the progression by saying “respond
to God’s promises by making every effort to supplement your faith with generous
amounts of ….. so you’ll be more productive and useful to Him.”
to God’s promises by making every effort to supplement your faith with generous
amounts of ….. so you’ll be more productive and useful to Him.”
Make every effort. I
know. We are saved by grace and not by
our own works. It’s true! Praise God!
But with some effort we can become more useful for God’s Kingdom, and
more fulfilled in our relationship with Him.
know. We are saved by grace and not by
our own works. It’s true! Praise God!
But with some effort we can become more useful for God’s Kingdom, and
more fulfilled in our relationship with Him.
Is there more to following Jesus than being a good person?
Like a productive garden, a rich
relationship should be tended regularly.
To be reminded to plant His Word in your heart, follow me on Twitter @Cathy_Chung or subscribe at
Seeds of
Scripture.
relationship should be tended regularly.
To be reminded to plant His Word in your heart, follow me on Twitter @Cathy_Chung or subscribe at
Seeds of
Scripture.
#seedsofscripture
#Lent #goodperson #savedbygrace #christiancharacter
#Lent #goodperson #savedbygrace #christiancharacter
Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
