For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith… goodness … knowledge … self-control … perseverance … godliness … brotherly kindness … love. 1 Peter 2.15
Peter offers a clue to many believers who are discontent with the state of their relationship of the Lord and are wondering what they can do to pursue a deeper and closer walk with Him. His message here almost implies that there might be two categories of people – those who are barren and those who are not. I will suggest these groups of people represent those who claim to be Christians and others who are disciples. Our default position might lean to the former as little or no effort seem to be required but if we will desire to become like Jesus. But if we will become like Jesus, then, it’s time we commit to be diligent and intentional to add certain virtues to our faith.
It takes a lot of effort to maintain our relationship with the Lord. When we stop putting in the effort to pursue after God and His purpose for our lives, it won’t be long before we are on a downward path to apathy and destruction. Our old, selfish and lustful desires would soon become attractive, then we might consider compromising with sin and ultimately forget that we have been saved. How do people who were once passionate and committed to the Lord become ungodly and immoral again? Peter gives us the clue here: when we no longer give all diligence to add these virtues to our faith.
The decision to put our faith in Jesus is laudable and commendable. As a result, our names are written in heaven, we have the hope of eternal life and we are now children of God. but what next? None of us will be able to add all these virtues all at once, as we retreat to the mercy seat daily, we must cry out to God for grace to equip us with these virtues, we also take advantage of the opportunities God provides to stretch ourselves, we don’t fast-track or avoid the ‘difficult’ place as these might be avenues to develop these virtues. It’s not enough to pray to God to give us these virtues, we must also be actively involved in ensuring that we are willing and submitted to His work in us.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful…
As we attain to maturity in the Spirit, we would soon realise that there are even new levels to be attained. We will never attain perfection on this side of eternity as God grants more opportunities for growth. Peter says it’s not just enough to hop around town, happy and content that we may have attained these but we should continue to strive to abound in greater measure. If there is an opportunity to become more like Christ, let’s not avoid it. Some may not clearly see Christ in us if we are not shining brightly for the Lord but when we are abounding in these virtues, who knows if our character might catch their attention. May our lives encourage and challenge others to follow the Lord.
Many claim to know about God but this might be a mental understanding of sorts but Peter is asking us to go beyond the familiarity of information and truly experience God. Something changes in our lives when God reveals something about Himself, His assignment or plans for you or something about your character he might want you to work on. What a tragedy to know so much about God and His ways or even to have received so much revelation but do absolutely nothing about it. Peter refers to that as being barren or unfruitful. We have been chosen to bear fruits and fruits that will remain but if we are unfruitful, it might be an indication that we might be lacking in these virtues.
There seems to be an overlap of some of these virtues with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5.22-23). Even though Paul and Peter wrote different books of the Bible, their inspiration by the Holy Spirit seems obvious. How do we claim to be filled by the Spirit of God but lack in the fruit of the Spirit? It’s easy to display the fruit of the Spirit while in our Sunday best in church but will we still be able to display these virtues when we find ourselves in places and spaces that make it harder to be seen as Jesus?
Goodness. None of us is good but we can ask God to fill us with His goodness. In a world that’s so selfish and greedy, being good to others might almost be seen as an oddity. And we may not have much or might even be struggling but God expects us to extend our hearts and hands to others anyway. Many want to be good only to those who are good to them or if their act of goodness will be acknowledged or reciprocated but God desires that we will extend his goodness to others from the goodness we have received from Him. When was the last time you offered your time, resources and talent to someone who wasn’t expecting or deserved it?
Knowledge. As we spend time with the Lord in prayer, worship and the study of the word regularly, he promises to reveal himself to us. If nothing has changed about our walk with the Lord in the last year, we may not be ‘growing’. I hope a renewed knowledge of God enables us walk closely with him. Learning from others is great, such as from books, podcasts, sermons etc but we must ensure that every new knowledge acquired aligns with God’s word and his character. What has recently changed about your life as a result of something you learned about the Lord?
Self-control. Every time we are not in control of our words, thoughts or actions, we desperately need the spirit of grace to help us. Everyone you know is struggling with a lack of control in one aspect of life. While some struggle with money, lust or dishonesty, others might be unable to steward their time, relationships or assignments. Self-control is possible as we lean on the Lord for grace but we must surround ourselves with others who will keep us accountable. What are you struggling with that you can share with someone else for prayer or accountability?
Perseverance. Or patience, maybe. Have you met someone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus but they are quite impatient and hasty? We might be impatient when we refuse to wait on the Lord to lead and direct. Or maybe we might impatient with others as they find their feet in their new-found faith in God. Perseverance on the other hand, is the endurance required to keep going when quitting seems an attractive alternative. Our walk with the Lord is not a sprint but a marathon of sorts and if we will be faithful until the Lord returns, we will need lots of patience and perseverance. Will we keep serving the Lord or others even when others do not notice or applaud?
Godliness. You would assume that all who have surrendered their hearts to the Lord automatically become godly. But Peter refutes this claim. Sadly, some have brought shame and disgrace to the name of Jesus by their actions. We must check and crosscheck our lives daily and ensure that we are still following the Lord. Sometimes we may desire to be godly but what do you do when the systems and structure in place are set up to ensure we compromise our faith in God? God isn’t interested in our piety if we serve him in public but bow down to idols in secret. If we will live a godly life, we must submit ourselves to be sanctified by God’s Spirit but also stay away from anyone or anything that might draw us away from the Lord.
Brotherly kindness vs. love. Love is described in 1 Cor 13.4-6 (suffers long and is kind, does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity but in the truth, bears, believes, hope and endures all things). What a tall order. If we are not doing all these things, can we truly tell anyone that we love them? Unlike love, brotherly kindness is love in action. Don’t trust what people say, watch what they do, how they treat you and others? What a sad testimony of those who claim to be disciples but walks by several opportunities to be a blessing to others, takes advantage of others and even hurts them. How can I demonstrate God’s love to someone today?
Lord help me walk with you daily, make me more like you. Amen