2 Peter 1:5-8 Grow As the Son Shines
“For this very reason, make very effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For 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” (NIV).
Sunrise in the Grand Canyon on a hazy day—the sunlight kind of creeps in across the landscape and eventually drives the haze away making for a bright clear day. As the sunrise ages and grows, there is beauty throughout the process. This incremental process brightens until the entire landscape is bathed in sunshine.
We can compare our growth in Christ to the sunrise in that we continue to grow as we learn, and the growth is a process, as the verse above indicates. None of us are greatly effective and productive the moment we accept Jesus as Lord. We may have much to learn, and there is beauty in every step we take toward the goal of becoming like Christ. I think I can also say that none of us are ever fully grown in Him here on earth, but as we grow in Him, we increase in beauty, and, as the Scripture implies, we become more and more effective and productive. I’m not sure that Peter meant the above list to be strictly in the order presented. I hope I don’t have to go through faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness before I can show mutual affection and love to my fellow believers. Perhaps after progressing through the entire list, my love for my fellow believers and for the lost as well, becomes deeper and more burning in my heart.
I know that there are times when I have forgotten some things I have learned in this list and need to go back to reacquaint myself with the particulars of each area of growth. I do know that moving through the list can be daunting even though it is necessary. Each quality listed adds blessings to our lives and improves our attitudes and actions toward others.
Lord, please let me know when I need a review of these qualities and guide me through the relearning I need.