For 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. 2 Peter 1:8, NIV

 

Peter has taught us that our faith is a precious gift from God. But we have a responsibility to grow in this faith. Faith must be enriched with goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love.

 

We receive the command to keep on growing in these seven qualities of faith. It becomes a lifelong learning experience. It sharpens our skills to be effective and productive in our service of God. We do this with enthusiasm and we enjoy growing closer to God. It is our desire to know him better, to spend time with him every day. As we grow in our knowledge of Christ, our trust in him increases and we dare to do more in his service.

 

Paul understood this hunger for the presence of God. He told us about his old life, before he came to know Christ, in Philippians 3. He thought that he did an excellent job of climbing the ladder of success in life. There were so many achievements in his life that he would have been proud of. He says in Philippians 3:4-6: “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

 

Like Paul, we could also build a life of which we are very proud. It seems as if he made it to the top of the ladder of success in his time. But then, he discovered that his ladder was standing against the wrong wall! Without Christ in his life, all his achievements were useless. Everything changed when he met Jesus and submitted his life to Christ. He describes what happened to him after meeting Jesus as Lord, in Philippians 3:7-11: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

 

Do you know this desire to know Christ and to dedicate your whole life to him? If yes, you are building your life on the right foundation. Knowing Christ changes our lives completely. Paul describes the effect of knowing Jesus in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” We build our whole lives on the foundation of Christ. This brings meaning to our lives and fills us with hope. Let God’s light shine in our darkness.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you that I may know Jesus and grow in faith to know you more each day. Whilst I am growing in faith, make me more of an instrument in your hands, sharing your love and grace with all around me. Amen.