Tag: self control

Make Every Effort

Make Every Effort 

(5)For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7 )and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (10) Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (11 )For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-11

Have you ever heard the idiom, ” Make every effort?” This phrase means: To try hard to accomplish something. Peter was making every effort to share with Christians the importance of growing in our faith.  Peter knew his time on earth was limited (2 Peter 1:13-14) so he shares attributes to add to their faith and ours. I know it may seem like adding to a full plate already but the eternal reward is the entrance into a kingdom with our Lord. Our spiritual maturity will help us grow in moral discipline. It will also show in our grace and love to others.

Lets review these attributes Peter shares with us together and with prayer we can continue to grow. (Philippians 3:13)

Virtue – showing moral excellence, goodness. Doing what is right even when no one is looking. Having spiritual courage to stand up for and display (John 8:3-11)

Knowledge – reading through the bible and many other resources we are given His words/instructions on ways to live and attributes to apply to our life.

Self-control – said many times to me now echoed in our houses to our children. The ability to control ( discipline) our physical and cognitive impulses that don’t align with  the goal of His kingdom. Titus 2:11

Steadfastness– Continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure. In our quick fix, instant gratification society it  can be easy to take short cuts or give up. Persevere 1 Corinthians 1:8

Godliness– living a Godly life is not easy, we fall short and make mistakes. We can make every effort need to strive to “try” and be better. God like-ness – trying to be observant of all teachings and avoiding sin. ( Paul messages in new testament)

Brotherly Affection–  A kindly and lenient attitude towards others. Romans 12:9-10

Love– strong affection. the highest form of love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God. Agape embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends, that serves regardless of circumstances.

So as we walk through our spiritual journey stay the course – Peter wants us to add this to our faith even though it will be hard because of the direction our society can take us. Philippians 1:6 Along the path check out the fruit are you bearing fruit or lacking? (v.8) Spiritual fruit will change your character, life, and outlook for future. Unfortunately, the same is true for bad fruit.  Luke 8:4-15 How is your sight when you go through this journey are you seeing everything? Near & Far Sighted – As we grow we need to see both the here and now, but also in the distance  seeing our eternity we will have in heaven.  Looking back Jesus paid for our sins to one day live eternally with Him. This short life we have on earth prepares us for another place for eternity. Peter’s wise words helps us along this journey because there is no way we do any of this on our own no matter how hard we try. Eternal Kingdom – Making every effort to add to our faith with have an impact on this life and the life to come. Stay the course of this Christian life and grow not giving into complacency. Be intentional and diligent in “supplementing” our faith because the rich reward provided by our God.

I encourage you as you go through biblejournal.net daily to continue to lead Godly lives and grow in the knowledge of God our Lord.

Have a blessed Tuesday!

 

Today’s Readings: 1 Chronicles 26–27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13

How to control your tongue

Today’s reading: Numbers 20; Psalms 58–59; Isaiah 9:8–10:4; James 3

May 11th, 2016

At some point a Christian begins to understand what he thinks, says and does are important to his Father and LORD. At this point that same Christian realizes how wretched he is and how great God’s mercy is.

When Jesus showed up everything changed for the Israelites. The word had become flesh and their judgement was now staring them in the face, no longer to be hidden behind the false teachings of the pharisees. His sermon on the mount made clear that no one was getting away with appearances anymore. The pharisees with all their rites and rituals, were false. Following them, striving to be like them and seeking their approval, righteous in the eyes of man, was a lie. God knows your heart and Jesus came to make this clear by showing us all; what you think matters.

Our thoughts are a battleground. We have victory in Christ to the degree that we have a single eye for Him. To the degree we pursue Him and Him alone, shunning the false promises of this world and placing His promises in our constant focus. This is a result of a true belief and understanding of God’s word and it allows us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. I have come to believe that taming a tongue starts with taking thoughts captive.

From today’s reading James teaches us a lesson in this area. He starts by warning us of the power of the tongue. How it controls the course of our lives. Know this truth:

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. – James 3:4–7

James takes particular interest in rebuking the reader of how we use our tongue with our fellows.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. – James 3:9–10

James then puts rounds out this lesson by shining light on the truth of the difference between heavenly wisdom and world wisdom of the devil:

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. – James 3:13–18

If we are to believe the Word as truth, the question then becomes; where is your tongue taking you?

taming the tongue

God may our heart’s desire and trust in You and You alone and may our tongues always lead us in Your ways. May worldly wisdom be kept far from us along with envy and strife. May Your wisdom fill our hearts pure, peaceable, gentle, easily intreated, full of mercy, good fruits, impartial, and whole in truth. May we make peace with all.