November 27, 2011 by Sue Detweiler
“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 The Message).
Peter gives you a list of seven characteristics that measure growth in your spiritual life. All seven of these qualities grow as we mature in each grace. Like the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), these virtues grow from living a vital love relationship with Jesus. The first quality is called “virtue” or good character. In the Greek it means moral excellence which fulfills your ultimate purpose in life. Faith helps you to develop this virtue which helps you to develop knowledge that is growing in spiritual understanding. This knowledge is not automatic it is connected to your complete obedience to the will of God for your life. You add to this knowledge, self-control which is the alert discipline of an athlete who prepares to win the prize. Added to this self-control is patience which is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. As you walk through trials, the reverent wonder of godliness helps you to become like God. Added to this godliness is warm friendliness of brotherly kindness. The seventh virtue is agape love which is generous and sacrificial.
It is impossible for you to manufacture these seven qualities in your own strength and effort. God will produce the beautiful character of His son in your life as you cling to His precious promises in faith. As you diligently cooperate with the purposes of God for your life, you will be fruitful as His vision for your life is fulfilled. He makes your life complete in Him.