Fruitful and productive
...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying 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. 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. 2 Peter 1:3-8, NASB
The One who called us and invited us to receive His grace for salvation is also the One who enables to grow spiritually. It is God’s purpose that His children will be fruitful in their Christian life. To this, He provided every resource needed so that we can be a reflection of who God is. From the text, the Apostle Peter said, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (v. 3). Godly living is the result of the transformation God is doing in the life of His children. Yet, in order for this to happen, we must first experience the joy and the richness of our relationship with God. Then, there should be diligence in obeying God. God wants to produce in us godly virtues—“moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love” (vv. 5-6). Such virtues do not come by merely wishing and hoping that we will produce them. We have to strive, with the leading of His Spirit and tapping into His resources, to be diligent to grow in our obedience. There are many other exhortations in which Christian diligence should characterize the life of every believer (see 2 Peter 1:10; 2 Peter 3:14; 2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 4:11). We should not assume that growth in Christian life takes place automatically and immediately. In fact, Satan will try to prevent us from growing and enjoying our lives in Christ. He will tempt us to remain mediocre in our Christian walk until he renders us ineffective and unfruitful. As Peter declared form the text, it is God’s life that is in us. The Holy Spirit resides in us to come alongside of us to help us. So give diligence in your commitment to what God will do through you. Let this be the expression of your gratitude for His life being in you. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
