Faith Supplements

2 Peter 1:5-6 (NLT®)
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness.

There have been voices like Peter’s throughout my life that were concerned about the formation of my character. My parents used to say, “We have a job for you to do. It will be good for you.” If they said that, I knew it wasn’t going to seem good for me. I thought skiing with my friends would be good for me; they thought cleaning out stalls would be. Teachers gave me assignments and said, “You’re not working to your full potential. Do this.” Obviously, I didn’t want to do that. Sometimes we treat the things of God the same way—at its essence, with a desire to go to Heaven and avoid Hell.  But God says, “I have bigger plans for you. I want My character to be formed in you. I want your days under the sun to be a reflection of My glory in the broken vessel that you are.”

THINK ABOUT IT
It takes intentionality and courage to choose a path that requires discipline, hard work, and diligence. But the spiritual benefits are worth our every effort.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help me be continually willing to grow spiritually and accept that it requires my faithful diligence. I want to know You more and grow into the image of Your Son, Jesus. May I yield to the tools You use to ensure that outcome. In Jesus’ name, amen.