Fruitful Growth in the Faith

 "But grow in grace and in the knowledge

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and forever. Amen"

(2 Peter 3:18)

As the year comes to an end and a New Year awaits us,

God's Word would have us to examine ourselves

before a Holy and Righteous God.

We are to hold ourselves up to the Word of God.

The end of a year should cause us to reflect

on our lives lived for Christ,

and with the newness of the beginning

of a New Year we should ask ourselves;

Have I done my best for Jesus?

Was there growth in my Spiritual walk with the Lord?

What changes need to be made

that I might grow stronger in the faith.
Those are just a few questions,
you may want to personalize your own.

~~~***~~~

Peter lists seven qualities by which Christians

can develop their faith,

making them fruitful and effective

in knowing Jesus better.

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith,

virtue, and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; 

and to temperance patience;

and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness;

and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound,

they make you that ye shall neither be barren

nor unfruitful in the knowledge

of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(2 Peter 1:5-8)

~~~***~~~

I praise the Lord for His Word

that instructs me on how to live.

We should not struggle with knowing how to live

a life pleasing unto the Lord,

for everything we need is in the Word of God.

Peter tells us we are to "give all diligence."

I looked up in my Greek/Hebrew study Bible,

and diligence describes strenuously

giving yourself to something,

fully committing to an activity without 

concern for the cost.

It is extraordinary commitment.

Diligence is essential to spiritual growth.

It takes effort on our part to make our faith grow.

~~~***~~~

Embracing the "diligent" life produces a stable

and consistent character ~

it produces greater endurance through difficulties ~

and stronger resistance to temptation.

With this New Year ahead of us,

we should desire for the old and unhelpful

habits to fall away,

and apply new and profitable habits to our lives

through the working of the Spirit of God,

Who has provided ALL that we need

to know Jesus better.

~~~***~~~

Dear friends ~ Take time to consider the promises of God.

Write them out ~ memorize them ~ 

ponder them in your heart ~ claim them ~

pray them back to the Lord ~ 

Remember what a magnificent God we serve,

and then act on what you know to be true of His Word.

~~~***~~~

Our Precious Heavenly father.

We come before Your throne with thankful hearts,

for this past year that you have brought us through.

We look to this coming year with You as our guide,

asking that You would teach us great and mighty things

which we know not.

Help us to be fruitful and grow in our faith,

that we might glorify You.

Amen.

Grace & Peace

~ Debbie ~
~
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