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"Are We Matured or Stagnant in Christ? "
October 15, 2022
Daily Devotion:
"Are We Matured or Stagnant in Christ? "
2 Peter 1:5-7
New International Version
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
Quite likely you have heard this familiar passage being taught innumerable times. It is not unusual for each virtue in the list to be defined and explained with great care (if not tedium), often with the suggestion that there is a progression from first to last. And who can argue with faith being foundational or love being the ultimate? But sustaining a logical progression throughout the list requires rather fanciful analysis. Peter's argument is not that there is an increasing scale of importance; rather, that we need to have all of these qualities in increasing measure. If we were to think of a lunch buffet, the idea would be to put more and more on our plate until there is absolutely no more room! Being filled with these virtues is how we participate in the divine nature and escape the temptations of the world. These virtues take us beyond an elementary knowledge of Christ and transform us into his likeness. If there is any progression to be considered, it is our personal progression from babes in Christ to mature citizens of the kingdom. Since the Christian life is to be a progression, it is only natural that we should take inventory of how far we have progressed. Are we more Christlike now than when we first called upon the Lord for our salvation? Have we noticeably matured in Christ, or are we stagnant? Given what Peter repeatedly cites as a risk for all believers-being worse off at the end than at the beginning we would do well to be brutally honest about how effectively we have incorporated this list of spiritual virtues into our lives.
The question of spiritual development is: Can I see as much demonstrable growth in virtue since my spiritual rebirth as physical growth since the day I was born?
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By Y.E.S. Jesus Youth Encountering Savior JesusOctober 15, 2022
Daily Devotion:
"Are We Matured or Stagnant in Christ? "
2 Peter 1:5-7
New International Version
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
Quite likely you have heard this familiar passage being taught innumerable times. It is not unusual for each virtue in the list to be defined and explained with great care (if not tedium), often with the suggestion that there is a progression from first to last. And who can argue with faith being foundational or love being the ultimate? But sustaining a logical progression throughout the list requires rather fanciful analysis. Peter's argument is not that there is an increasing scale of importance; rather, that we need to have all of these qualities in increasing measure. If we were to think of a lunch buffet, the idea would be to put more and more on our plate until there is absolutely no more room! Being filled with these virtues is how we participate in the divine nature and escape the temptations of the world. These virtues take us beyond an elementary knowledge of Christ and transform us into his likeness. If there is any progression to be considered, it is our personal progression from babes in Christ to mature citizens of the kingdom. Since the Christian life is to be a progression, it is only natural that we should take inventory of how far we have progressed. Are we more Christlike now than when we first called upon the Lord for our salvation? Have we noticeably matured in Christ, or are we stagnant? Given what Peter repeatedly cites as a risk for all believers-being worse off at the end than at the beginning we would do well to be brutally honest about how effectively we have incorporated this list of spiritual virtues into our lives.
The question of spiritual development is: Can I see as much demonstrable growth in virtue since my spiritual rebirth as physical growth since the day I was born?