There is just too much meat in this next section to discuss in one day, so I've broken it in two portions. Today, let's focus on just the first half of verse 5:
2 Peter 1:5a
For His divine power has given us everything required
for life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us
by His own glory and goodness.
By these He has given us very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may share in the divine nature,
escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.
For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your
faith with goodness,
goodness with knowledge,
knowledge with self-control,
self-control with endurance,
endurance with godliness,
godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours
and are increasing,
they will keep you from being
useless or unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The person who lacks these things
is blind and shortsighted,
and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
Therefore, brothers, make every effort
to confirm your calling and election,
because if you do these things
you will never stumble.
For in this way,
entry into the eternal kingdom of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
will be richly supplied to you.
2 Peter 1:3-11
If someone you dearly loved asked you to make every effort to bring them a gallon of water every day, and you knew that what you brought was most of what they would have to live on, what would you do to ensure you got that water to them? Do you think you'd forget after a week or two? Or would it become a regular part of your routine?
Why do we think it's any different when God gives us the life sustaining advise to "make every effort" in our Christian walk? We are told in the New Testament to make ever effort...
to enter. Luke 13:24, Hebrews 4:11
to take hold. Philippians 3:12
to supplement. 2 Peter 1:5
to confirm. 2 Peter 1:10
to recall. 2 Peter 1:15
to be found in peace. 2 Peter 3:14
These things are given for us to do for our own benefit in order to stay healthy as slaves of Christ Jesus. But the question is, are we willing to do them?
Interestingly, the phrase "make every effort" is used only ten times in the New Testament. Seven of them - above -are between a human and God. They are things given for each of us personally, by God, to strive for. The other three still require action, but they are person to person. They were written through Paul, saying "make every effort to come (to me)". 2 Timothy 4:9, 21; Titus 3:12
Christianity is not a lone religion. If it were, we would not be called on to encourage one another so much- "But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception." Hebrews 13:3 (See also: Romans 1:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) There would also be no need for lessons on the Church as the body of Christ if we were to tread this path alone. "And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ..." Ephesians 4:11-12 (See also: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12).
Paul realized his God-given need for fellow believers to help him in his own ministry and walk. He made every effort, and in doing so, set a prime example for us to follow.
I have faith that because Paul had made every effort to know and follow Christ himself, if he had been the one bringing that gallon of water daily for me to stay alive, it would have been done with brotherly love and affection. In doing so, Paul's encouragement through an act of love would have inspired me to make every effort to follow my own narrow path with Jesus Christ, resulting in the continuation of the cycle.
How about you? Have you brought, or been brought, a "gallon of water" everyday, or is your witness for Christ Jesus a bit dehydrated?
to enter. Luke 13:24, Hebrews 4:11
to take hold. Philippians 3:12
to supplement. 2 Peter 1:5
to confirm. 2 Peter 1:10
to recall. 2 Peter 1:15
to be found in peace. 2 Peter 3:14
These things are given for us to do for our own benefit in order to stay healthy as slaves of Christ Jesus. But the question is, are we willing to do them?
Interestingly, the phrase "make every effort" is used only ten times in the New Testament. Seven of them - above -are between a human and God. They are things given for each of us personally, by God, to strive for. The other three still require action, but they are person to person. They were written through Paul, saying "make every effort to come (to me)". 2 Timothy 4:9, 21; Titus 3:12
Christianity is not a lone religion. If it were, we would not be called on to encourage one another so much- "But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception." Hebrews 13:3 (See also: Romans 1:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) There would also be no need for lessons on the Church as the body of Christ if we were to tread this path alone. "And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ..." Ephesians 4:11-12 (See also: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12).
Paul realized his God-given need for fellow believers to help him in his own ministry and walk. He made every effort, and in doing so, set a prime example for us to follow.
I have faith that because Paul had made every effort to know and follow Christ himself, if he had been the one bringing that gallon of water daily for me to stay alive, it would have been done with brotherly love and affection. In doing so, Paul's encouragement through an act of love would have inspired me to make every effort to follow my own narrow path with Jesus Christ, resulting in the continuation of the cycle.
How about you? Have you brought, or been brought, a "gallon of water" everyday, or is your witness for Christ Jesus a bit dehydrated?
The problem that I have is that I would bring 2 or 3 gallons each day for a while and then take time off. I find that I do that with reading scripture, I get involved in reading several things for a while and then "take a break" until I get dehydrated again. I do that with real water too. That is a habit that is hard to break.
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