For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV)
Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things; to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, ERV)
So don’t lose a minute in building what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. – (2 Peter 1:5-7, MSG)
Faith is our first step in a relationship with Christ. We must believe that He is who He says He is in order to trust Him to grow us into who we are meant to become. To be more like Him so that His light and love show through us, we must grow in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, kindness and love. These things demonstrate the heart and character of God to those around us. We must not merely speak of what we believe, but rather we ought to live it out through all that we say and do. Our heart, character, and nature speak volumes when we do so in pursuit of growth in our relationship with God. To grow, we must actively pursue the Lord and His very best for us. The more we know and understand Him and how He loves, the deeper our desire becomes to love likewise. May we ever seek the Lord and be intentional in our pursuit of all that He wants us to learn and how He wants us to grow, so that we may clearly reflect His heart to those around us.
O Lord, please show us,
how to further grow;
to reflect Your heart,
to all whom we know.
Your kindness, goodness,
patience and Your love;
grown and reflected,
to show You’re enough.
The more we seek You,
the more that we learn;
Your heart for people,
as our lives You turn.
Turn to Your goodness,
demonstrate Your grace;
patient and gentle,
grow us in Your ways.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to grow in ways that demonstrate who You are and how You love. Thank You that You sent Your Son to show us what goodness truly is. Forgive us for the times that we have neglected to live out who You have called us to be, or have stayed stagnant in our current space. Teach us to seek You anew each day, and to listen to learn how to walk in Your way. Lead us in Your love so that we may love those around us as You love us all. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to grow us to live and love more like You. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1
Revelations In Writing 