Faith Supplements
"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead" (James 2:17).
Just as no organism can remain static, the Christian must be constantly growing or risk a spiritual decline or even death. For the Christian to grow, faith must grow. Just as we add supplements to our diets, Peter* instructs us to “supplement” our faith.
Faith --> Moral Excellence --> Knowledge --> Self-Control --> Perseverance --> Godliness --> Brotherly Kindness --> Love
As we follow the progression of Peter in 2 Peter 1:5-8*, moral excellence should lead us to knowledge—the knowledge to know to learn more and more about the will of our Lord. That we will "delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night" (Psa.1:2).
The more knowledge we attain, the more it seems logical that we will want to regulate our lives in accordance to His Will (temperance or self-control). Soon, self-control should give birth to patience or perseverance. As we strive to remain faithful in the face of temptations, adversities, and hard times, this perseverance will grow.
Because Jesus showed us the way to resist Satan, our perseverance will grow into godliness. In this godliness we will reflect the proper attitude toward God. If we are maintaining the right attitude toward God, naturally we will desire to have the right perspective in our feeling toward our fellow Christians (brotherly kindness). We will give and receive strength and encouragement from them.
Through our improved attitude toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord, love (agape) will develop. It will manifest the right attitude toward everyone. Jesus instructed us to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). We will now want to "give up our cloak," and "go the extra mile."
It’s a lot to think about isn't it? By adding these seven qualities to our faith, we can become the vital, maturing, and growing spiritual beings that God wants us to be. Peter does sum it up for us. "If you do (practice) these things you will never stumble" (V 10). He says that we should have these qualities "in increasing measure." I think that Peter became the spiritual giant he was because he practiced what he preached. Let's strive together in that direction....
Have a wonderful day…Make a difference.... Love mark Phil. 4:11
*2 Peter 1:5-8 (New American Standard Bible)
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
*2 Peter 1:5-8 (New International Version)
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For 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.