Loading... ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE - 2 Peter 1:5
Friday, August 31st, 2007II Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to your virtue knowledge;
Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are eight qualities that Peter calls the great and precious promises. These eight qualities are a gift from God to enable you to be partakers of the divine nature. However, these eight gifts are not passive in nature but require that you diligently apply them to your life.
For the last year, you have been studying the second of these eight precious promises, virtue. It is your duty to God as HIS child to increase your virtue to draw closer to HIM. However, virtue is not the only precious promise that you are to obtain. All eight precious promises should be sought and obtained by you and applied to your life so that you might live a life pleasing unto God.
You understand the importance of virtue in your life. You understand that you add virtue to your life by putting on the mind of Christ, by filling your mind with the things that are pleasing to God. Virtue is filling your mind with those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report. These things are naturally virtuous and these are the things that are to fill your mind with. When you have filled your life with virtue, you are taking the time to develop a closer relationship with God. A closer relationship with God will enable you to hear HIS voice and obey HIM.
Think of an employer who has two employees. One employee totally dedicates himself to his work. All this employee can think about at work is pleasing his boss and helping make the boss successful. The second employee may be working for his boss, but all he is thinking about is what he is going to do this evening and weekend. Both employees may be working, but only one has his priorities straight. The boss could tell both employees that he desires something done, but the employee who has his mind on the needs of his boss will hear, whereas the employee who has his mind on this weekend may not hear the request of his boss.
As a Christian, you have an obligation not to just proclaim that you are a Christian but to also fill your mind with the things of God so that you do the will of your Creator. God is speaking, but it is those who have a desire to put God first in their lives who are in a better position to hear God and understand HIS desires for their lives. By filling your mind with virtue, you are much more likely to hear God’s voice. By obeying God’s voice, you are in a position that your actions please God.
Virtue is an important aspect of your Christian life. However, it is not the only aspect of your Christian life. Virtue is only one of eight precious promises mentioned by Peter in this passage. In addition to virtue you must add the other seven qualities to your life.
Filling your mind with the things of God will be an important step so that you can add knowledge to your life. Knowledge easily puffs you up so you must first fill your mind with the things of God so that you always maintain the proper priorities. God knows and will judge your every thought. Filling your mind with virtue will allow you to receive God’s blessing rather than his judgment.