Since we are from the South and lived without a car from February 2006-June 2014, moving to Wyoming brought new and interesting challenges. To counter the new challenges of snow driving as well as the wind, we have needed to add new skills to our repertoire. A Christian’s spiritual life is no different. New behaviors and skills must be added while others must be strengthened to be more pleasing to God.
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. -2 Peter 1:5-7
Peter tells Christians to be serious about specific additions to their lives. By extension though, he also addresses subtractions that must be made. For example, if a person is adding knowledge of Scripture and God’s will to their lives, they are subtracting ignorance. If they are adding self-control, they are eliminating a lack of restraint. Peter goes on to tell his readers these qualities are not optional if we truly want to prove useful and grateful for what Christ has done for us.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. -2 Peter 1:8-9
The altered skills and behaviors are meant to make God’s people useful to Him. By adding these things, we reflect the glory of God to the world around us. Don’t want to change? Peter says you are blind and short-sighted regarding the sacrifice of Jesus.
Change is tough. God wants to help us. To do so, He has given us each other.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. -Ephesians 4:11-13
God aids us in building up the body of Christ. Paul specifically mentions evangelists, elders, and teachers. These evangelists and teachers are not necessarily in a classroom or pulpit. Instead these are people who are more spiritually mature who can guide us in our walk with Jesus. They can offer good advice because they have lived the Christian life longer. Because of them, our faith and understanding of God is strengthened. We become more faithfully mature.
Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -Proverbs 27:17
As 2015 is quickly coming to a close, let’s reevaluate our lives. What changes need to be made to make us what God wants us to be? How can we help our Christian family make the additions that will make them useful to God? Let the sharpening begin!