Sunday, November 05, 2006

YOU DO IT

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There’s a powerful passage in II Peter that offers more balance of a genuine faith that is proven out by your actions. In this case it starts out with what God has already done for you: Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
God has already given us everything we need to live the faith life most effectively. Then, because of what God has done inside us, we are told to do some amazing things—to supply: Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
Now, get this. God is not going to supply these things to our faith (moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love), we are to supply them to our faith. The word “supply” has the meaning of “underwrite” an event. This is to come from our efforts, so we must be capable of doing it.
Now watch the 3 results if we do these things: FIRST—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. You will become fruitful in the true knowledge of Jesus.
SECOND—For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; If you lack these qualities, you will find yourself blind—can’t see where you are, short-sighted—can’t see where you’re going, and having forgotten your salvation—can’t see where you’ve been.
THIRD—for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. If you are faithful to supply these qualities to your faith, God will abundantly supply or underwrite a special entrance into the eternal kingdom.
TO SUM UP: God empowers us to live the faith life. We are commanded to do our part. Then, God supernaturally blesses us in our relationship with Him. It just doesn't get any better than this!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aristotle said "happiness is the by-product of engaging in activity". Could we not say the same for faith? It has also been said that happiness is not a thing that can be held in ones hand and it is not dropped into ones lap as we sit alone in a room. Again, could we not say the same for faith or serenity.
Robert

Tim Timmons said...

Robert, you make a good point. In AA we call it "acting as if". Maybe if you act on the little bit of faith you have, then those actions flesh out your faith and grow it. Jesus said you only need faith the size of a mustard seed.