“For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8
What are these qualities that Peter is talking about? Look back at verses 5-7. The list is: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.
It starts out with your faith in God and builds all the way up to love. Your faith is the base of everything. As it builds up you learn to correctly use what you know to build God’s kingdom.
In the end you need to be like God. Remember that God is love. His perfect love causes Him to do everything perfectly. Your goal needs to be the same as God’s goal–to build His kingdom and save the world. You cannot save the world, but you can bring people to Him.
These qualities are not something you just get a little bit and stop with. They need to be continually increasing. No person can say they are good enough; or have enough knowledge or self-control; or any of the other qualities. There is always room to increase in every one of the areas.
Each of these qualities can be built up at different levels at the same time. God may work on your perseverance (patience) one day and the next work on your knowledge. Be open to God’s direction.
All of these qualities together will keep you from being ineffective in doing what God desires you to do. If you feel like you are spinning your wheels and not getting anything done, check these qualities and see which may be lacking in your life at that time. Seek God daily to reveal to you what you need to learn for the day and how to grow more like Him.
Remember that God has given you everything you need to live a godly life (verse 3). It is because of that divine power you are told to build up these characteristics. Do not allow yourself to be kept back because of lack of growth. Look at that list of qualities daily and seek to grow in them.
I pray that today God will build you up more like Jesus every day; that you will take on the qualities of Jesus daily; that God will help you to be effective and productive in your work for Him; and that God will fill you with His perfect love to share with others.
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