NIV
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Message
3-4Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.
5-9So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.
10-11So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, his choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Krissy Responses verse by verse to this passage:
3.
We learn from the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis to the last words in Revelations, that truly this life we have, has been given to us by God, and it the the desire of our Creator, Savior, King, to be everything to us in life, and He has given us EVERYTHING in life, and NOTHING is more important than knowing JESUS! AMEN
4. How amazing! Not only did God save us- from a dangerous position/circumstance BUT he also offers us the WHOLE WORLD. How amazing! He welcomes us into a life of fullness, majesty, beauty...and provides an amazing escape from the places of darkness and ugliness of our world.
Just imagine finding a great treasure chest..what would be inside? All the desires of your heart cannot even come up with what God has FREELY and BEAUTIFULLY offered us. ( I forget this all too often. O dear Jesus, thank you so much for all that your outstretched hand is offering me.)
What does participation in heavenly things look like? wow! I cannot even fathom, but I feel so unbelievably humbled and in awe.....you are offering me all the riches of heaven and all the assurance of your perfect love. wow!Lord I do want to particpate in all the things of you..and Lord help me, for I am weak, to escape the things of the world, which are intended to destroy me and take away from the beautiful things you have for me. I adore you Jesus! Please help me to wholeheartedly pursue you more and participate more in your divinve nature and ways and life!
5. Does faith really produce goodness? I know that intimate knowledge of Jesus produces faith that cannot be shaken. I know that many people have some for of understanding or knowledge of God and Jesus, but they have not has one of those face to face, plunging experiences in HIS divine and loving presence....I pray for that for the whole world...because in those moments, the whole world and our existence makes sense....Lord God I pray that in my life...the faith that I have in you....will produce goodness in me. I look a GOODNESS as a light to the world that shine brightly....people cant avoid it...people always acknowledge goodness! That is why it is called GOOD NEWS, right? You are so beautiful LORD, you are so good. I want to be a daughter of a GOOD GOD. Produce in me a branch of goodness that may bear fruit that others may eat off of and acknoledge your goodness! Amen.
6. A Christian is marked often times negatively by the things that he/she does not do. Often times it is really something that deters people from getting to know the God of Christians. They are no fun! They dont do so many things....But Christians should be marked by the things that we do do! With this said as well, we do live in a culture that promotes indulgence! We have to demonstrate self control and perserverance. Why? Sometimes I myself am not sure. But I do know that those times that I demonstrated those two qualities I was greatly awarded with spiritualy growth and intimacy with my Father. Lord I pray that you will continue to help me demonstrate these two qualiies that I may bear witness to you working in my life! Thank you.
7. Reverent wonder? I really think that God desires this from His children. Isnt this worship? Praise? I often imagine the nations before God in heaven....praising and worshipping God in eternity, for eternity. Some people have told me, what will we do in heaven? You honestly cant tell me you will just stand before God for eternity and sing to him, people ask sarcastically. I have thought about this, and I must say that when I was younger and not as in love with God as I am now...the thought was not all too appealing...but now.....O lord.whenever I am in worship...I dont want it to end....I basked in it...and my heart is filled...all my desires are fulfilled.
Love? What does love have to do with it? You know the verse that every pastor uses for a wedding...love is patient, love is kind....well they always forget to read the verses before that...
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love matters above all else...and it is the true mark of dicipleship, sonship, I believe.
8. The more we grow in likeness of Christ the more we can really grasp all that He desires for us. I think that we often walk around NOT acknowledging 1.) what God has already miraculously done for us, forgiven our sins and bought us out of hell, 2.) that God is passionately pursuing us everyday and His love for us is so GREAT. Do you realize what you have in CHRIST...do you realize the life he is offering you now...and for all eternity.
9. Believe it dear brothers and sisters.....you have been forgiven and you are no longer in debt. He loves you and you are HIS forever!
10. God really has chosen you....God came as a little baby for you....God died on the CROSS for you....he has so much in store for you...will you not open your heart and life to HIM so that he may do a great work in you and bless you and love you like you have never experienced before!
O dear child, every day please live in that promise. He loves you and wants so much great things for you. It is all he thinks about....he created the whole universe for you......every thing he does it out of motivation that you may know him more and spend eternity with him.
11.
You will receive a rich welcome! I was always told when I was little that everytime a new believer comes to the Father....a party happens in heaven. It is true! You are so loved, dear child.
Also stand strong on the promise that the road to eternity....it is a paved wide road....Jesus has made it easy for you...all you have to do is believe, confess, and just soak up all the blessings of heaven.
I pray you recieve this well and that it may bless you. he adores you.
Merry Christmas!
