Month: November 2016

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-6 HCSB

My grandson, Logan, is three years old and enjoys building things. When he was very young he was able to stack blocks one on top of the other until it would become top heavy and fall. He would squeal with excitement and then start building another tower of blocks. For Christmas we gave him a Lincoln Log building set. He now enjoys putting the logs together to build houses and other structures. The common element is that he has to start with the first block or log and then begin building on it.

The same is true in our walk with the Lord. We must start with the first building block – “faith” in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and then build on that faith if we are going to become like Jesus Christ. Our ultimate goal is to be as much like Christ as possible in our actions and thoughts. In these Scriptures Peter provides a list of things we must do to become like Christ. One of these qualities is self-control or discipline. We must discipline ourselves to do what is right. Our human nature is to do what is best for ourselves or what brings pleasure. Some false teachers in Peter's time had said that since Christians were saved by faith, they could do and say what they wanted and would be forgiven. Peter argued that they would be forgiven, but Christ desires more for each of His followers. We are to strive to become like Christ.

Challenge: Do you have the first block of “faith”? If not, then pray and accept Jesus as Lord of your life by faith. Next begin to work on the other qualities to become like Christ. Be self-controlled and discipline yourself to seek and obey Christ's teachings. The Holy Spirit will guide you to do what is right in your actions, thoughts, and emotions.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-6 HCSB

I have heard the expression “For Goodness Sake” my whole life. It is a saying that is similar to ”For Pete's Sake” or “For Crying Out Loud”. All of these sayings are idioms that are used as a way of expressing surprise or annoyance with something that has happened or with someone's actions.

In this passage of Scripture Peter is encouraging us to add goodness to our faith. He could have said, “For goodness sake – add goodness to your faith”. He may have been disappointed with some of his readers who had become Christians and yet were not being kind towards other people. Peter was reminding them and us that we need to be kind and considerate towards others. As we are “good” towards others, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love will be developed in us. The ultimate goal is for us to love others as Christ loves them. We are to be continually growing to become more like Christ in our thoughts and actions. It all begins with faith in Jesus Christ, but we must add goodness. The goodness does not save us, but it is one step towards becoming more like Christ.

Challenge: “For Goodness Sake” be good! Treat others with respect. As Matthew 7:12, popularly known as The Golden Rule, advises, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. You are a work in progress. Keep striving to be more like Jesus Christ every day.