Nearsighted

 "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. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."

— 2 Peter 1:8-9

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

These qualities that Peter has just listed in the preceding verses: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love; are all qualities that I can possess and I can possess them in increasing measure. If I do that, these qualities in my life will be the protective safeguard from an ineffective and unproductive life and being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of You.

Ineffective means idle and lazy. There's no beneficial activity emanating from my life. I'm simply taking up space. Unproductive means unfruitful and barren. Like a tree with leaves but no produce. In John 15:2 You stated, "He (the Father) cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." Titus 3:14 instructs that, "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives."

Whoever does not have these qualities in their life is both nearsighted and blind. Nearsighted indicates only being able to see what's immediately in front of you, only the temporal, not the eternal. Blind means being in the dark, unseeing, unable to see anything at all. This comes from forgetting that I have been made new, my old life is gone, my sins are wiped clean, and I am a new creation.

Lord Jesus, help me remember that my old life is gone. Keep me from living an unproductive and ineffective life, walking blind or nearsighted. I choose to possess these qualities in increasing measure so that my life is very productive and greatly fruitful!

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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