“Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 CECUK.
Our declaration today states that: “I am growing in grace and godliness everyday.”; but how on earth do we make that happen in our lives? Of course the answer is that we don’t, we can’t ‘make’ any of it happen! And yet Peter tells us to ‘add to’ or ‘supplement’ our faith, as though it’s up to us to do it.
Let’s ‘unpack’ it a bit! We can’t save or sanctify ourselves – only God can do that. But we can work with God through the power of the Holy Spirit to form good habits, build character and walk up rightly – that’s the bit where we have to be obedient to God and make a decision to do what He shows us to do and that’s when His grace is given to get the work done in us! We have to recognise that no man is born with character – we have to ‘make’ it.
And then there’s the matter of ‘brotherly affection with love’ – which Peter also brings up! Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, has already told us that we can be as spiritual and as ‘holy’ as we can be….. but without love we’re like a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal! God doesn’t love me because I’m lovable – but because it’s His nature to do so. Likewise, we’re to love those around us – but not necessarily because they are lovable! It’s a decision in our will in obedience to the Lord. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained by discipline – and that can only happen through the help and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us.
Be blessed. 🙏❣️