How about this for a whack in the head???Sure got my attention!
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For 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. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For 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. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
So I'm thinking...
No matter how naturally intellegent or "smart" a person is, they can study and make better grades. The harder a person studies, the more they learn.
No matter how much natural athletic ability a person has, practice and training make better. "Practice beats talent if talent doesn't practice".
The same is true in music.
And Negotiations in the business world.
The people who are driven to excell usually do.
And those that are satisfied to just get by usually do.
I hate it when I have to be honest, but here goes.....
I have not been DRIVEN to EXCELL spiritually. (UGH!) I have been satisfied to "just get by". I pray. I go to Sunday School, lead Preschool worship, Lead Ladies Bible Study, worship on Wednesdays even....and I read over my lessons for preschool worship and for ladies Bible study....and that's about it. Oh! I also listen to Christian music.
Really? That's it? There is no "practice" aka...digging deep into scripture- driven to know more of God. It sure hurts to look at my spiritual life so honestly.
Thankfully, one of my spiritual gifts is Faith. That helps aLOT...kinda like being a natural at hitting a baseball. my FAITH gets me through a LOT of stuff....like cancer for example. HOWEVER.....just like a batter with great talent cannot reach his/her full potential without dedication and determination and lots of practice, I am not going to reach my full potential without dedication and determination and lots of digging into God's word.
The scripture said Make every effort.
Every effort.....
every effort....
oh man! I am SOOOOOO falling short! Actually, my effort is not even worth acknowledging. Really, all I do is go to church. Not that going to church is a bad thing, but just going to church is like just going to school and never taking home a school book or a notebook to study for a test and HOPING that I'll remember every thing the teacher said in class. Wow. No wonder I am still a baby Christian. It is time to grow.
Father God,
Forgive me. Your word says that you have given me everything I need for godliness. Godliness is what I want to be exemplified in my life. Forgive me for falling short. Forgive me for not making every effort to increase my knowledge of you. Oh Lord! I do love you and I do want to know you more. Create in me a hunger and a thirst for your word and help me to add to my faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. Your word says that you have already given me everything I need for a life of godliness. I'm not even close. Help me Lord to be driven and dedicated and EAGER to know more and more and more of YOU!
Amen
