Every Effort

 "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

— 2 Peter 1:5-7

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Since God has given me very great and precious promises and has invited me to partake in His divine nature, I am to exert all effort to add this list of qualities to my faith. These don't come automatically. These are character traits that are cultivated intentionally.

Goodness means virtue, moral excellence, virtuous thought, feeling, and action. It's the very character of God that defines what is good. Knowledge means having a deeper, more perfect and enlarged understanding of our Christian faith. It's not just increased intelligence or accumulated facts, but moral wisdom that applies this knowledge. Romans 15:14, "I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another."

Self-control is the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions especially his sexual appetite. This is the final entry of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23. We are to add to self-control perseverance which means being able to endure under trials, not swerving from your deliberate purpose, patiently and steadfastly waiting. Adding to perseverance is godliness. Godliness is reverence and respect towards God. 1 Timothy 4:8 says that godliness is of virtue in every way for all things both in this life and the life to come.

To godliness, we add mutual affection. The Greek word is philadelphia which means "brotherly love." It's the loving kindness I feel toward my Christian brothers and sisters. Finally comes love (agape). This love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. This love is without condition. This love was displayed upon the cross.

Lord Jesus, today I choose to add these qualities to my faith. I exert the effort to build them into my character.  I thank You that You possess all these qualities in full. May they be added to me in abundance I pray.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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