2 Peter 1:5-11 (New King James Version)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What does “diligent” mean?
Someone I love very much told me recently (not in these exact words) that he was satisfied with his relationship with the Lord. I was shocked. I’m not quite sure how to respond to such a statement. I personally don’t understand it, now. But then the Lord began to remind me of how there was a time when I too was satisfied with my relationship with him.
I heard a very wise preacher last night, one who has been in the pastorate for over 50 years, talk about this passage. He read the definition of “diligent”. I began to ask myself if I was being diligent in my relationship with Christ. Would Father find me “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort” in my pursuit of Him? Could I be considered “engaged in action”; “being in use”; “full of activity” in adding to my faith the listed characteristics? (virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love) That’s a lot of “adding to”!
Satisfaction leads to passiveness. Passiveness leads to stagnation. Stagnation leads to sin. James 4:17 says “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Why wouldn’t someone do what they know they ought? Because they’re satisfied with where they are.
There was a time a couple of years ago when I was the same way. I was blind to my passivity. I was blind to my pride. I honestly thought that I was a really good guy. I used to marvel when my pastor would say from the pulpit, “I have so many faults and rough areas in my life that God is dealing with me on.” I couldn’t understand it. I couldn’t honestly think of very many faults where I needed to work. Boy was I blind!
About 16 months ago, I went on a Quest. On my Quest, I discovered how blind I really was and how bound I really was in my sin. On my Quest, I learned what it really meant to love and serve my wife. Just ask her. I can honestly say that this past year or so has been the best year of our marriage in 17 years…. by leaps and bounds! Note: we didn’t have a bad marriage before hand, but we have an amazing marriage now.
Even more than the transformation of my marriage, I discovered what a relationship really is with Father God. I never really knew what that meant growing up. He was so big, so invisible and so far away. I didn’t hear Him. I didn’t KNOW Him. On my Quest, I discovered that He was there all the time. I learned how to hear Him. I heard Him speak things over me that I will never forget. I gained my identity as one of God’s beloved sons. For the first time in perhaps forever, the Bible came alive. I cannot wait to dig into God’s word daily.
For the first time in our marriage, I became the spiritual leader that my wife had been praying for.
What I discovered is that my Quest was not an event, but the beginning of a journey…. a lifelong journey of a real relationship with God. A relationship that I pursue daily, hourly. I yearn for time with Father.
I will NEVER be satisfied with my relationship with Father. I want to continue to be diligent to add to my faith to get to the point at the end of verse 10 “…if you do these things you will never stumble…“. Every day I want to close the gap between where I am and where He is. I only pray the same for you.
Running After Papa…