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; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you."
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NASB)
O) The "reason" mentioned in verse 5 is what is detailed in vv.1-4, which basically says that it's by faith and through grace that we are made righteous through Jesus Christ and that righteousness allows us to be partakers of God's divine nature, which is holiness. So, moving on from there we get a breakdown of spiritual growth and the fruitfulness that will come through that. Reaching verse 10 we see that this is the character of a person suitable for ministry and through that character, through the growth and fruit that comes through that, entry to Heaven goes without saying. It's important to note, however, that just because a person is working in a ministry does not mean they're automatically living a holy lifestyle and, therefore, automatically going to make it into heaven. It's a matter of the character they've built and the fruit they've grown - that's the indication of spiritual health and the indication that they will go to heaven.
A) First, Heaven is the number one priority. In light of eternal consequences, I think this may be the one area where God is okay with selfishness. I cannot let any person, desire, or thing get in the way of me making it to Heaven. Having said that, there's a lot more that I'd like to do than simply making it in to the eternal kingdom. I want to minister to my family, first of all, and I want to minister to others. I want to bring as many people with me into Heaven as I can. In order to do that, I need to be sure that I'm building the type of character that can minister effectively. I need to be taking steps to grow in the areas listed. Some of that is a natural byproduct of reading the Word daily (like virtue or knowledge), some of it comes through accountability partnering, mentoring, counseling, which is an area I admittedly need to address (like self-control or perseverance or godliness), some of it comes simply by practice of doing (like brotherly kindness or love). The main point, though, is that I should be making efforts to grow in these things. Being aware of that need is the first step. Ultimately, ideally, I may eventually make some kind of a short term- long term goal. I imagine that as I look into furthering my education next fall a lot of this will accelerate in a manner I've never quite experienced; however, I certainly don't want to wait or tarry until then.
P) Father, help me grow in these areas, Lord. I genuinely want to be a tool in Your hand, used for Your plan, God. Holy Spirit, continue to shape me into the man I'm called to be. Like an athlete, help me train myself in discipline to grow and become stronger in all of these traits, Lord. Help me address them all, neglecting none of them, and guide me as I even make goals and a plan to develop my character into that of a faithful, useful minister. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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