Scripture:

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.” 2 Peter 1:5-9 (MSG)

Perspective:

Peter was writing to the early church to encourage and exhort them to continue on in their faith. Peter was the disciple who had walked with Jesus. Peter started out as a bold disciple who acted rashly at times. His decisions weren’t always well thought out. He was the one who jumped out of the boat to walk on water, pulled his sword and cut off someone’s ear, and was scared of people’s opinion of his association with Jesus. Yet, as he walked with Jesus, his faith grew and his understanding that there are key building blocks to living a life of faith. He encouraged the early church to not stop at the beginning of faith but grow the patience, hospitality, love, discipline, and virtue needed to live life to the fullest.

When children grow up, there are different milestones that are celebrated. When they start talking, they receive applause. The first steps are met with great enthusiasm. Yet, a child has to continue to grow and develop past those initial steps. In our faith, a similar process occurs. Where faith starts is not where faith ends. It is the development of patience and virtue that grow depth and understanding in our lives. It’s learning to love people and develop hospitality that can add to our lives as we walk in faith. If you have just started, don’t stop building so that you can experience the depth and breadth of a life of faith.

 

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer, Ph.D.

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

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