Today's focus - verses 5-9: For this very 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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Do we see this...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, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love...as a line with a beginning and end? Do we begin with faith and end with love?
I don't think so; I think it is more of a circle. I think we start with a little faith, trusting in what that faith, we do the good it calls us to. When we do a little good we see...and gain the knowledge...that the process works somewhat. With that new knowledge comes the ability to practice self-control, because we see it working. When we gain that discipline, it allows us to keep going through tough times, to persevere. The goodness plus the knowledge plus the self-control plus the perseverance brings us a little closer to Godly behavior. Godly behavior makes us want to treat others better. When we treat others better, the love of God flows through us. When the love of God flows through us, it increases our faith, and the cycle continues and grows...and grows...and grows...and we take on these qualities in increasing measure.
We become more like Jesus.
It is like the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5). When we have a piece of fruit, we can eat it, and get all of the goodness, flavor, nutrition, and enjoyment of it. And what is left over? The seed! Which can be planted to provide immeasurable amount of fruit for others to enjoy.
"Anyone cans count the seeds are in an apple;
but only God can count the apples in a seed."
Unknown
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Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. Are these steps you can take?
3. What might be the result?
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