2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness
Notice the succession. We start our relationship with Christ in faith. We need to display this faith in virtue and purity. The virtue that we show needs to be displayed in godly knowledge and wisdom in order for people to see the Christ in us. Peter now says that this knowledge needs self-control added to it. This is incredible for someone like Peter to be saying this. If there was anyone who jumped at opportunities impulsively, opened his mouth and stuck his foot in it or did the wrong thing without thinking, it was Peter. But, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, he wrote this epistle. Who else would know more about self-control than someone who has had problems with it?
What is self-control? It is one of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”, (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV). The Greek word for “fruit” is a word that is used for the fruit of a tree or plant and it is also used for the result of work, actions or deeds. In each case we see that one small amount creates a much larger result later. One seed creates many, many more fruit later when the plant is mature. One action creates many results from that action later.
It is interesting that the ability of self-control is directly related to being Spirit controlled. The Spirit controlled life is only accomplished by using God’s direction book (His word) to implement such actions. It is also accomplished by spending time with Him. When we spend time with moral people the product tends to be goodness and morality. When we spend time with the wicked, the only product can and will be corruption. So, the more time we spend with the very God of heaven Himself in prayer, praise, supplication, listening to Him and enjoying Him in every way. It is then that we will become more and more like Him. The battle of self control is one of the most difficult battles of the Spirit controlled believer. The battle may be long, difficult or painful, but the result of godly fruit is always worth it.
We all have issues of self-control in which we are weak. Some of these areas of weakness are controlling our tongue, our money, our emotions, our time, our ability to say yes or no, our lusts, our choices and many other matters can have problems of control. Many aspects of self-control are own responsibility, like doing the right thing or not going to the place of temptation. But, some matters of self-control involve a extended amount of time and determined commitment to God, allowing Him to mold us and cleanse us of ingrained bad habits. What do we want in our walk with the Lord? Do want an average, unproductive faith or a committed walk of the shining beauty that shows that we have spent time with Christ.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Knowledge of God
2 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
The next quality that Peter encourages us to add to our faith is knowledge. Upon starting in faith, we need to display virtue and purity. But we need to express this purity in the knowledge and wisdom of God. The use of anything without knowledge and practical experience is dangerous and can be harmful. We all know that a small amount of knowledge in the wrong hands is dangerous. Even so, we need godly virtue displayed with wisdom and knowledge.
Knowledge comes in many forms. Many people merely know about God, but this does not get us to heaven. Each person born on this earth has been instilled, by God, with knowledge of a greater being than themselves. But it is our decision as to what to do with it. We need to believe in Christ, and then, we can know God to a greater degree and to a deeper level. Knowing God personally, intimately, how He works and what He thinks comes from faithfully spending time in His word and prayer. Walking in obedience to God is the greatest way to find out who He is. God is never too big or too busy to spend time with us. In fact, He is delighted when we bow before Him and spend time with Him. We need reverence and awe to come to God. Solomon says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”, (Proverbs 1:7).
Peter tells us, in verse 2, about the knowledge of God. He says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”, (2 Peter 1:2, NKJV). Gaining the knowledge of God allows us to be blessed with amazing amounts of grace and peace. All people are seeking peace. Many are seeking it by acquiring money, popularity, things, sex and/or many other ways. But the only way that we will obtain peace is by knowing God. What greater way in there to be at peace than to receive the grace of God. Receiving a reward when we deserve judgment, obtaining a pardon when we deserve a sentence, what greater peace of mind is this?
Verse 4 of this same chapter says that by the knowledge of God we can be “partakers of the divine nature”. Isn’t this tremendous? When we know God greater, we can share His very nature. We can be a partner or an associate with the very nature of God. Experiencing God at the very core of His being and knowing Him to this degree is available for every one of us. We can know Him personally, uniquely and awesomely if we flee corruption and put our complete trust in the grace and goodness of God. The depths of the goodness of God are ours to share, we just need to want them.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
The next quality that Peter encourages us to add to our faith is knowledge. Upon starting in faith, we need to display virtue and purity. But we need to express this purity in the knowledge and wisdom of God. The use of anything without knowledge and practical experience is dangerous and can be harmful. We all know that a small amount of knowledge in the wrong hands is dangerous. Even so, we need godly virtue displayed with wisdom and knowledge.
Knowledge comes in many forms. Many people merely know about God, but this does not get us to heaven. Each person born on this earth has been instilled, by God, with knowledge of a greater being than themselves. But it is our decision as to what to do with it. We need to believe in Christ, and then, we can know God to a greater degree and to a deeper level. Knowing God personally, intimately, how He works and what He thinks comes from faithfully spending time in His word and prayer. Walking in obedience to God is the greatest way to find out who He is. God is never too big or too busy to spend time with us. In fact, He is delighted when we bow before Him and spend time with Him. We need reverence and awe to come to God. Solomon says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”, (Proverbs 1:7).
Peter tells us, in verse 2, about the knowledge of God. He says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”, (2 Peter 1:2, NKJV). Gaining the knowledge of God allows us to be blessed with amazing amounts of grace and peace. All people are seeking peace. Many are seeking it by acquiring money, popularity, things, sex and/or many other ways. But the only way that we will obtain peace is by knowing God. What greater way in there to be at peace than to receive the grace of God. Receiving a reward when we deserve judgment, obtaining a pardon when we deserve a sentence, what greater peace of mind is this?
Verse 4 of this same chapter says that by the knowledge of God we can be “partakers of the divine nature”. Isn’t this tremendous? When we know God greater, we can share His very nature. We can be a partner or an associate with the very nature of God. Experiencing God at the very core of His being and knowing Him to this degree is available for every one of us. We can know Him personally, uniquely and awesomely if we flee corruption and put our complete trust in the grace and goodness of God. The depths of the goodness of God are ours to share, we just need to want them.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Virtuous Believer
2 Peter 1:5 (NKJV)
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
After trusting Jesus Christ as our savior, He desires that we grow. Within 2 Peter 1:5-7, we are given guidelines as to what is needed to assist our faith. Virtue is the first godly quality that Peter encourages us to supply to our faith is Christ. Virtue is a quiet subject in the church and even the bible talks about it only a few times. But, Peter uses it as the first character quality that we need in order for our faith to grow.
In order to have a deeper and more vital walk with Christ, we need to go above and beyond simple faith. It only takes a mustard seed of faith to become a Christian, but it is trust and faith that Christ wants to strengthen as we walk with Him. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him”, (Hebrews 11:6a, NKJV). We see here that God cannot be pleased without faith. God is delighted and thrilled when we trust Him in a walk of faith.
Virtue is a sign of moral excellence and purity. Someone who desires to display virtue seeks to go above and beyond normal. This is someone who is not satisfied with status quo. This is someone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone. When we seek purity in our walk with God, we find that our total life needs to be consumed with God and His word. Others need to see that faith and God’s word is working in our life, so we need a higher standard to live by. As salt of the earth, we need to be the spice that helps others desire Christ.
Our focus needs to be on the Lord and His ways, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things”, (Philippians(4:8),NKJV). Notice, it is a virtuous thing to think on these things. This will not be easy. Many times we will not feel like doing these things and sometimes we may not even want to. Just tell the Lord your thoughts and ask Him for His strength to overcome. Thank Him, in faith, before things even happen that He has already answered your prayers. Then watch Him answer.
A person walking virtuously and in purity is someone that everyone desires to be around. This is why Solomon says, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies”, (Proverbs 31:10, NKJV). All who have a virtuous spouse know that no amount of money could buy this.
Thought, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge
After trusting Jesus Christ as our savior, He desires that we grow. Within 2 Peter 1:5-7, we are given guidelines as to what is needed to assist our faith. Virtue is the first godly quality that Peter encourages us to supply to our faith is Christ. Virtue is a quiet subject in the church and even the bible talks about it only a few times. But, Peter uses it as the first character quality that we need in order for our faith to grow.
In order to have a deeper and more vital walk with Christ, we need to go above and beyond simple faith. It only takes a mustard seed of faith to become a Christian, but it is trust and faith that Christ wants to strengthen as we walk with Him. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him”, (Hebrews 11:6a, NKJV). We see here that God cannot be pleased without faith. God is delighted and thrilled when we trust Him in a walk of faith.
Virtue is a sign of moral excellence and purity. Someone who desires to display virtue seeks to go above and beyond normal. This is someone who is not satisfied with status quo. This is someone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone. When we seek purity in our walk with God, we find that our total life needs to be consumed with God and His word. Others need to see that faith and God’s word is working in our life, so we need a higher standard to live by. As salt of the earth, we need to be the spice that helps others desire Christ.
Our focus needs to be on the Lord and His ways, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things”, (Philippians(4:8),NKJV). Notice, it is a virtuous thing to think on these things. This will not be easy. Many times we will not feel like doing these things and sometimes we may not even want to. Just tell the Lord your thoughts and ask Him for His strength to overcome. Thank Him, in faith, before things even happen that He has already answered your prayers. Then watch Him answer.
A person walking virtuously and in purity is someone that everyone desires to be around. This is why Solomon says, “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies”, (Proverbs 31:10, NKJV). All who have a virtuous spouse know that no amount of money could buy this.
Thought, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Opposite Ways of God
I Peter 6:6,7 (NKJV)
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
While walking with God, many times we need to realize that His ways are different from ours. Sometimes they are opposite. Isaiah tells us this, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD”, (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV). We need to realize that God’s wisdom and knowledge are extremely greater and more infinite than ours. Our response should be to step back in faith and trust Him that He knows what He is doing.
In today’s verse we find that humility will exalt us. Humility is so foreign to the world that we live in that it is not even considered as an option. But God says that He can use us to a greater extent if we display humility. We first of all need to humble ourselves before Him. God cannot use us if pride resides within us. Pride demands that we are in control. But humility realizes that God’s ways are always greater that ours and His ways are the only way to go. We need to always be ready to obey God, no matter what it costs us. Humility shows God that we are His possession and it shows the world and we are God’s possession.
The phrase “in due time” also implies that God’s timing is, many times, different from ours. We want instant answers. We want things done in our timing, but God may need to prepare us, prepare others or the situation in order to answer our prayers perfectly. When God does things in His timing, we will always be amazed at how He worked it out and that He is the only One who could have accomplished this task.
In verse 7 we are told to cast our cares on him because He cares for us. God wants to take responsibility and ownership of handling all of our cares and concerns. This again is so opposite of the ways of the world. Think of a boss. Many times a boss wants to pass off difficult work to others so that they don’t have to deal with. God wants to handle all our cares and difficulties because He loves us and He knows that we are weak. He wants us to be concerned with more important things than the cares of this world. A boss tends to want us to be concerned with the details of the job and not to be caught up with other things. God cares for us and wants to bear the burden instead of us.
Why do we, so often, not want to cast our cares on God? So many times we think that we can handle it better than God. Just remember, give all your concerns and cares to Him and He will work it out much greater than we can. Throw your cares upon Him and don’t take them back. God knows what He’s doing, even when we don’t.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
While walking with God, many times we need to realize that His ways are different from ours. Sometimes they are opposite. Isaiah tells us this, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD”, (Isaiah 55:8, NKJV). We need to realize that God’s wisdom and knowledge are extremely greater and more infinite than ours. Our response should be to step back in faith and trust Him that He knows what He is doing.
In today’s verse we find that humility will exalt us. Humility is so foreign to the world that we live in that it is not even considered as an option. But God says that He can use us to a greater extent if we display humility. We first of all need to humble ourselves before Him. God cannot use us if pride resides within us. Pride demands that we are in control. But humility realizes that God’s ways are always greater that ours and His ways are the only way to go. We need to always be ready to obey God, no matter what it costs us. Humility shows God that we are His possession and it shows the world and we are God’s possession.
The phrase “in due time” also implies that God’s timing is, many times, different from ours. We want instant answers. We want things done in our timing, but God may need to prepare us, prepare others or the situation in order to answer our prayers perfectly. When God does things in His timing, we will always be amazed at how He worked it out and that He is the only One who could have accomplished this task.
In verse 7 we are told to cast our cares on him because He cares for us. God wants to take responsibility and ownership of handling all of our cares and concerns. This again is so opposite of the ways of the world. Think of a boss. Many times a boss wants to pass off difficult work to others so that they don’t have to deal with. God wants to handle all our cares and difficulties because He loves us and He knows that we are weak. He wants us to be concerned with more important things than the cares of this world. A boss tends to want us to be concerned with the details of the job and not to be caught up with other things. God cares for us and wants to bear the burden instead of us.
Why do we, so often, not want to cast our cares on God? So many times we think that we can handle it better than God. Just remember, give all your concerns and cares to Him and He will work it out much greater than we can. Throw your cares upon Him and don’t take them back. God knows what He’s doing, even when we don’t.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
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