Articles
PURSUIT OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
Peter admonishes us to “…apply all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7) Making “every effort,” or giving “diligence,” is vital to any enterprise or endeavor. Someone has well said, “Never itch for anything you aren’t willing to scratch for.” What can mean more to us than the end result of diligence in making “…certain about His calling and choosing you;” (v. 10), which Peter describes as the way or “…the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...” (v. 11)
Please notice that in verse 8 the text continues, “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.” Surely, no one wants to be “useless” or “unfruitful” in any undertaking, and especially in our Christian walk. If we do not add these Christian graces in an active, engaging, growing way, then that is exactly what happens to us.
As if that is not enough said on the matter to catch our attention and put us into deep thought, Peter adds, in verse 9… “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” What a charge! Many today who preach the Bible isn’t relevant and that it’s outdated or old-fashioned would claim that’s a narrow-minded indictment.
“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.” (Vs.10-11)
As you can tell, we have allowed the Spirit-inspired Peter to write most of this article. His words are simple, understandable, to the point; and they are so powerful! These verses need to be read and reread by every Christian.
Are we truly “diligent,” are we making “every effort,” in our Christian growth and work for God? I have heard some incredible promises in my lifetime, just as you probably have also. Most often advertising promises far more than it delivers, but the promises of our text are completely reliable. Indeed, the benefits of heeding Peter’s words and the consequences of neglecting them are great. Peter’s own words should convince us to pay careful attention, for the benefits pertain to our past, our present walk, and our future hope. May we approach our text with a deep sense of its importance and an open and willing heart eager to hear and heed what God’s Spirit has revealed.
