What I Learned Today

So, twice a week (well usually twice a week, work usually manages to eat up one of those days), Irma and I get together for Bible study. Actually, we really just do our own quiet times and then share what God has taught us...its like double the dose of Godly wisdom to start your day! Loving it and I have been so blessed by Irma's wisdom and insight.

So today I was reading in 2 Peter 1:1-11 and two specific verses jumped out at me (I'll list the "qualities" that are mentioned after the verses...just bear with me!)

" For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter: 1:8)

"Therefore, brothers be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).

So first off, this is addressed to believing Christians. The qualities are as follows: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

I looked each of these up in the dictionary:

Virtue: moral excellence, goodness, righteousness,- conformity in life and conduct to moral and ethical principles
Knowledge: acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles- as from study or investigation.
Self-Control: pretty self explanatory but- restraint of one's actions, feelings, emotions
Steadfastness: fixed in direction, firm- as in purpose, resolution
Godliness: conforming to the laws and wishes of God
Brotherly affection: well, I just looked up "affection"- fondness or devotion to a person or thing
Love: haha this one (of course) is way hard to define (there were like 57 definitions), so define it how you want

What's interesting to me is how this all ties together- watch:

To obtain virtue, one must be dedicated to pursuing righteousness. To do this, one must be in the Word, gaining knowledge by reading about God and studying His character. From what we learn, the Spirit begins to convict us of sin and grow us in attributes of self-control and steadfastness. This sanctification process leads to increased godliness. By becoming more like Christ, we reach out in love to our fellow Christians, and ultimately, begin viewing mankind with Christ's love.

Pretty cool huh? But, a pretty daunting list of honorable words right? Where does one go to find an example of what this looks like? Well, God of course...watch:

All of these words directly describe God's character: His virtue is unmarred, His righteousness ultimate, His knowledge is omniscient, His self-control and steadfastness are rock-solid. He is never taken by surprise because everything happens according to His plan, He is faithful and holds ALL His promises to us. He is Holy. His desire to grow us and challenge us and discipline us can be described as devotion to us, and His work on the Cross is the ultimate description of love.

Anyways, I was just blown away by His grace in teaching me this today and though I would share.