Some Next Steps

Scripture: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

Observation: Peter opens his letter with a list of spiritual fruit, and then goes on to state that these are important and Christians need to be reminded of these traits regularly, for following and improving in these traits will guide their lives. These start with faith, but proceed with virtue (excellence), knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection (kindness), and love. In current language ... once you have faith in Jesus, you should improve your behavior, read scripture, control your bodily sins, remain strong, seed God's laws, be kind to others, and love one another.

Application: Effectively, this is a one-sentence summary of proper "Christian" behavior. It closely aligns to so many other such summaries, including Paul's fruit of the spirit. So the question today is ... why do Christians - myself often included - fail to accomplish or even attempt to strive for these traits?

I believe the biggest reason for this is that so many of them involve relationship. Many of these traits define proper interactions with others, or at the very least involve behavior that is observable and therefore judged by others. I personally don't do well with others. I get mad while driving, struggle to love and be kind, and generally can't be "excellent".

This defines the daily struggle, and the daily walk with God. My daily walk needs to be even simpler. It needs to start with humility of myself, mercy and justices for others, and attention to God.

Prayer: Lord, today and every day, help me to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Amen.