I'm painfully aware of my own deficiencies, as most people probably are. I could easily compile a list of flaws and personal shortcomings (which would not necessarily be the most healthy exercise for personal self-esteem).
Perhaps a more difficult task is to grasp this incredible truth:
"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." (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Did you notice this great all-inclusive truth: He has "granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness"? None of us are deficient due to personality flaws or character defects; He has made avail;able to us EVERYTHING needed. The challenge before us, then, is to appropriate all of the resources freely available. It's not like going to the refrigerator to see IF there is anything to eat; it's going to the refrigerator to see WHAT is available.
With this assurance in mind, we are then challenged to take appropriate steps to acquire that which our Father makes freely available:
"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 1:5-8)
Going back to our refrigerator illustration, it doesn't matter what's in it if we don't make the effort to open the door and remove some of its contents. All of God's resources do us little good unless we take certain steps to receive what He offers.
If we are have a true knowledge of our Lord Jesus it will be through the pathway of character development that can only be accomplished through the resource of the Spirit of God within. As we devote ourselves to the disciplines that are in harmony with God's Spirit we allow true character to be formed in us.
Rising early for a quiet time with the Lord at the beginning of the day is not easy for me but I see more clearly that this time is valuable in surrendering to the power and presence of the Lord Who desires to form His character within me. Discipline is the pathway to character.
"Father, we rejoice in the abundant resources you freely make available to us. Direct our wills so that we would discipline ourselves to receive Your resources.Thank you for the assurance that we are neither useless or unfruitful as we see Your character formed in us. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Steve
Perhaps a more difficult task is to grasp this incredible truth:
"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." (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Did you notice this great all-inclusive truth: He has "granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness"? None of us are deficient due to personality flaws or character defects; He has made avail;able to us EVERYTHING needed. The challenge before us, then, is to appropriate all of the resources freely available. It's not like going to the refrigerator to see IF there is anything to eat; it's going to the refrigerator to see WHAT is available.
With this assurance in mind, we are then challenged to take appropriate steps to acquire that which our Father makes freely available:
"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 1:5-8)
Going back to our refrigerator illustration, it doesn't matter what's in it if we don't make the effort to open the door and remove some of its contents. All of God's resources do us little good unless we take certain steps to receive what He offers.
If we are have a true knowledge of our Lord Jesus it will be through the pathway of character development that can only be accomplished through the resource of the Spirit of God within. As we devote ourselves to the disciplines that are in harmony with God's Spirit we allow true character to be formed in us.
Rising early for a quiet time with the Lord at the beginning of the day is not easy for me but I see more clearly that this time is valuable in surrendering to the power and presence of the Lord Who desires to form His character within me. Discipline is the pathway to character.
"Father, we rejoice in the abundant resources you freely make available to us. Direct our wills so that we would discipline ourselves to receive Your resources.Thank you for the assurance that we are neither useless or unfruitful as we see Your character formed in us. In Jesus' name. Amen"
Steve
posted by steve @ 11:06 AM
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