Planted Deep Within – Godly Life 12

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11 TPT 8 Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately. 9 But if anyone lacks these things, he is blind, constantly closing his eyes to the mysteries of our faith, and forgetting his innocence—for his past sins have been washed away. (2 Peter 1:8-9) The more we grow in the development of these Godly virtues, the more productive and useful we’ll be to God’s Kingdom purposes and the more we’ll become like Jesus. These virtues are already planted deep within us, and there’s enough to go around if we’ll activate and use what we’ve been given. We often tend to look outward for the source of the qualities we want to develop in us so that we can be active and fruitful, know Jesus more intimately, and live more godly lives. We think if we pray more, God will give them to us. Or if we work a lot harder to be good, we can do this. Kind of an “I got this!” attitude. Peter says that those qualities are already in us, planted there by the Holy Spirit. Remember a few weeks ago when we considered the old nature and the new nature? We saw that they are both already in us and we choose daily which one we will cultivate and nourish and respond to. I need to revisit this emphasis often in my faith journey. I know lots of folks can read a scripture and say, “The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it!” Maybe it’s because I have such a short attention span. Maybe it’s because I continually find myself facing challenges I never imagined would come my way. But I have to be reminded of what God has already done in me, by his spirit, at my new birth. These virtues are already planted deep within us, and there’s plenty to go around!

Actually, I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to be reminded of these things! Peter started this whole thing with the words, “Everything we need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power!” And he follows that up with this, “So devote yourselves (make every effort) to activating these God-qualities, these virtues in you life.” Make every effort! Prayer: Father, Thanks for the example of Peter’s life as he grew from an impulsive fisherman to a man who influenced so many in the early days of the church. And who influences us still today. May we activate by faith the precious gifts you have planted in us. Amen.