God desires for His people to grow. We are challenged daily with busy schedules, deadlines to meet, and waves of entertainment that can eat up most of our day. As disciples of Jesus, we must strategically take time, energy, and seasons to seek the face of God and His heartbeat.
Each day we must be advancing, growing, and building our lives to be more like Christ. In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle challenges us with these words,
“5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There are a few key phrases in the text that challenge us as believers to grow. Apostle Peter shares that we must “add to our faith.” Each day we must strategically set ourselves up to grow in the Spirit. Look at the product of daily adding to our faith. Peter shares that we will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we focus on adding to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, etc. we will grow and be fruitful believers.
For those who don’t add to their faith according to Apostle Peter will be shortsighted, blind, and will forget that they have been cleansed from their old sins. Today we have a choice to build our lives in Christ and be fruitful or stay “busy” in life and become dull, shortsighted, and stagnant.
Challenge yourself to grow today. Read the Word of God, pray, fast, display kindness and a heart of service to others. You will grow and be strong as you add to your faith!
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank You for this day that You have given me. I desire to be more like You and to feel Your heartbeat. Today, I choose to strategically set time aside time to seek Your face and build up my faith. Help me to display the Fruit of the Spirit in my conversations, behavior, and attitude. I desire to advance Your Kingdom. Give me wisdom and strength to do so in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Hylton