BUILD IN LAYERS

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2 Peter 1:5-8

5b “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, 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.”

(TNIV)

Many Christians have knowledge of Christ, but this knowledge is not productive in their lives because there are no virtues to support them. The presence of virtues in our lives is what determines the extent of effectiveness and productivity the knowledge of Christ will bring to us.

Our relationship with God is designed to grow. We are in a building process. We should not have to start from scratch every day. This requires consistency to the process and loyalty to God.

It helps to consider your life with God as a wall that is being built. Good materials, the right tools, and sound construction principles are required, if your wall is to stand.

I love the way Peter states it: “Add to…”

He is saying that if we have faith but stop there, we will fail. If we add goodness and knowledge but leave out self-control, our wall will fall. Get the concept?

Think layers. Keep “adding to.”

Here are few challenging questions for you to consider and answer if you like: Is your relationship with God stronger today than it was last year at this time? How about last week? Which of the 8 elements listed above may you be lacking? How may you add that element(s)? What layer do you plan to “add” today? How will you do that?

Verse 8 explains that, if we layer these items in our lives, we will be effective and productive. Now read verse 9: “But if any of you do not have them, you are nearsighted and blind, and you have forgotten that you have been cleansed from your past sins.”

That explains why so many of us struggle – we are making no spiritual progress because there is no conscious adding to our virtues.

Knowledge of Christ with no virtues (good works) leads to unproductivity!

Prayer: Dear heavenly father, than you for this glorious day you have made. I pray you give me grace to daily add to my spiritual stature, in Jesus mighty name I pray Amen. Amen.

By Rick Whitter & SD Abraham

YEARLY BIBLE READING: Job 11-12 OR

TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL AUDIO VERSION LINK:

http://optionadynamics.com/download/devotional%20audio191.mp3

Full Devotional Resource: www.streamglobedevotional.com