TO CHEW ON: "...add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love." 2 Peter 1:5-7
If we think of our life as a house, faith would be its foundation and the things listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7 would be the building materials to make the upper structure. The studs and rafters; the roof, walls, windows and doors; the plumbing and wiring; the gyprock, flooring, paint and trim of my life house and yours should be constructed of:
Knowledge (gnosis): knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding, also:
- the general knowledge of Christian religion
- the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion.
- the knowledge of things lawful and unlawful for Christians
- moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living
Self-control (egkrateia): mastery; self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially sensual appetites)
Perseverance (hupomone) - remaining behind, a patient enduring also:
- steadfastness, constancy, endurance
- in the NT this is the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
- patientence, and steadfastness
- a patient, steadfast waiting
- a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
- reverence, respect
- piety towards God, godliness
- love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love
- in the NT the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren
- brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence
- love feasts
Because of our various life situations, personalities, histories and circumstances, how we use these materials in our lives will differ. Only you know where you need to shore up your house with more perseverance, improve the wiring with self-control, soften the decor with brotherly kindness, or freshen the air with love.
To what purpose do we build our lives out of these things? Peter tells us in verse 8: To be fruitful: "For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:8).
PRAYER: Dear God, thank You for the Bible which leaves no aspect of life untouched. Help me to translate this knowledge into action. Amen.
Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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