S) "5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 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. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;"
2 Peter 1:5-10 (NASB)
O) In verses 5-7, Simon Peter gives a succession of 8 qualities that should be building into one another. In verse 8, he tells us that if we are increasing in these things, we will never be useless or unfruitful - a solid promise. In verse 9, he gives a sort of contrast, warning that the lack of these qualities ultimately means we have forgotten about all that Christ did for us. But, the reason I chose this passage is for verse 10. It carries the promise that stood out to me the most. If I am diligent about each of the 8 qualities, then my calling and God's choosing of me are made certain; as long as I practice these things, I will never stumble in my walk with Him.
A) If I want my marriage to be fruitful, I need to practice these 8 things with my wife. If I want to be fruitful raising my children, who are ultimately God's children that I am stewarding, then I need to practice these 8 things in my parenting. If I want God to use me for any ministry, both to my own family and to others, if I want that ministry to be fruitful, effective, and worthwhile, I need to practice the above 8 qualities. Practicing them means making specific efforts to carry out each of them; it means focusing on increasing them in my life. It takes conscious effort; I have to be diligent, just as the verse says.
P) Father, You've given me a great responsibility. Holy Spirit, constantly remind me that my life is not my own. You have called me to lead my wife. You've called me to lead my children. You have given me a ministry to teach and called me to counsel some young adults. You have given me a vision for a new a new move and a new ministry... I have a lot to do. Thank You for calling me up, Lord. Help me to prioritize the things in my life. Give me strength to be diligent and make conscious practices of the 8 qualities of ministry that You described in this verse, God. Thank You for these promises, that I will be more and more certain of Your calling and choosing me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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