II Peter 1: 5-7
Now for this very reason also,
The reason is that we are living with Divine Life, God's Holy Spirit in us.
applying all diligence,
Constant and earnest effort to accomplish this with persistence.
in your faith supply moral excellence [virtue],
In believing who God is, we will emulate His character with a sterling moral standard.
and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
In maintaining this high morality, we will learn more and more of Christ's character.
and in your knowledge, self-control [temperance],
Learning more of how Jesus was without sin, we will be able to keep our fleshly weaknesses under His control.
and in your self-control, perseverance [patience],
Keeping on keeping on. Steady progress, not being in a hurry.
and in your perseverance, godliness,
That steady progress, building God's character in us, little by little.
and in your godliness, brotherly kindness,
Developing God's character in us, we will see one another in the affection of family relationships, as God sees us.
and in your brotherly kindness, love.
In relating to one another affectionately, we will come to love them and want the very best for them regardless of what it costs us. The way God loves us.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
If we can demonstrate these qualities in our daily lives together, and we are growing in these relationships.
they render you neither useless nor unfruitful
Then God will be able to use us to further His Kingdom, and we will bear the spiritual fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This will work out this way because what we know, what we have learned about who God is and who Jesus is and what He has done for us is pure and sure and trustworthy. It is the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not mixed with any superstitions or fables that would weaken its power to work in us.
We have God's Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Life, and Truth, the Spirit of Jesus, living inside our own, human spirits, giving us the Divine Life--not to be gods, but to have God's power and authority today in this mortal body.
As we live our lives day by day, we are learning and growing in our knowledge of how to follow the Manufacturer's Instructions by walking in His footsteps in our thinking processes and desires. The closer we draw to our Source, the more we will demonstrate and display in our relationships all the positive and helpful character traits that God is building in us.
Instead of looking at the World as the World looks at it, we will see with God's vision, with His Light showing up what the World really is, and we will not be seduced by its lies and smooth deceptions.
We will have true liberty, the freedom to do what is right.
O my Father, help me to be diligent in strengthening my faith, believing everything You are teaching me, and applying all these lessons in my daily living every day.
Teach me how to keep on, patiently taking each step, confidently trusting You to guide me faithfully where You want me to go, doing what You want me to do. Not being distracted by my own flesh or the pull of worldly things.
Father, help me to see my brothers and sisters, and my neighbors, and the people I see as I go about my days, as You see them, so I will love them as You love them, Father, because You want them all to know You, too. Show Yourself to them through this clay pot, that You are transforming into Your crystal vase, molecule by molecule.
And I will one Day shine like the Sun with the glory of Christ in me.
And every eye shall see, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus really is the Lord God who is the Sovereign King of the Universe--to the glory of God the Father!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
