Monday Devo
Scripture:
2 Peter 1
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
Commentary:
1:5 supplement your faith. Peter exhorts Christians not merely to confess faith in Christ but actually to live as he taught. He is not saying that works are a prerequisite for salvation but rather is arguing that faith must take concrete form in life. All the virtues listed in vv. 5–7 are results of faith, so faith is listed first, while love (the ultimate result of faith) is listed last (v. 7; cf. 1 Tim. 1:5). Virtue translates Greek aretē; see note on 2 Pet. 1:3.
1:6 Godliness translates Greek eusebeia, “devoutness, piety, devotion to God” (also in vv. 3, 7; 3:11; see 2 Tim. 3:5).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2418.
1:6 Godliness translates Greek eusebeia, “devoutness, piety, devotion to God” (also in vv. 3, 7; 3:11; see 2 Tim. 3:5).
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2418.
Questions:
- In 2 Peter chapter 1, it's all about the FRUIT. A true FAITH will produce FRUIT in your life. In verse 5, Peter says we should "make every effort to respond to God's promises." This is in reference to the fruit of EFFORT. As a follower of Jesus, we should be zealous and passionate, not lazy. Our heart's desire SHOULD be to work to become more and more like Jesus. Not "do better, try harder," but allowing the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. What does the fruit of EFFORT look like in your life? Are you full speed ahead when it comes to your faith? Or are you just sitting back and watching?
- This work of the Holy Spirit in which He changes us from the inside out is called sanctification. It is the life-long process of becoming more and more like Jesus. As we spend time with Jesus and read and study His Word, we will slowly start to think and behave differently. Our lives produce more and more of HIS fruit and less and less of the fruit of this world. Are you growing in the Lord? Do your life, habits, behaviors, desires look differently now than they did a year ago? If not, what is missing?
Pray:
- That you would be growing more and more like Jesus.
- That the fruit of your life would scream His name.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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