SEARCHLIGHT
What are you doing to develop your personhood?
SCRIPTURE
For this very reason, make every 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. 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. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
At birth, you are a baby. You are a new creation of God, a full-fledged human being, who has just begun the journey of life. However, to continue the journey, you are going to need to grow and mature. No longer will God form you as He did in your mother’s womb. He gave you a will to determine your destiny. God did His part in creating you. Now it is your turn to cooperate with your Creator, who desires to bless you. Your part requires you to add certain things to your life in order to progress physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Your responsibility begins with meeting your basic survival needs. Included in this list are air, food, water, clothing, shelter and sleep. At first, parents provide these but as time goes on, you step up to make sure these needs are met.
Surprisingly, the next most important things you need to add to your life may not be what you think they are. Money and material things will not provide what you need to develop a total person. In addition, what you really need will not require you to attend high school or university. However, it will be your choice as to whether these needs are added to your personhood. The development of your personal well-being is not automatic or inevitable. Furthermore, it cannot be purchased. You must decide whether to take time and patience to nurture qualities that will bless you, your family, and society.
In today’s Scripture focus, Peter first identifies the importance of your relationship with God. Then he lists 7 needs you are responsible for adding to your character. Do not miss it. God did His part by providing you salvation through His Son. Jesus died for your sin so that you could be spiritually born again. Now the Bible instructs you to add 7 qualities to your faith in order to become the person God has intended you to become. The question is, how diligent will you be in meeting your personal needs to grow and mature? Will you do your part? You need to add:
#1 Goodness- How are you serving God and humanity? How are you helping people? What are the values and virtues that direct how you treat people?
#2 Knowledge- What steps do you follow to make wise decisions and act honorably?
#3 Self-control- Do your passions serve you or master you? How do you control your feelings?
#4 Perseverance- You need to not only be patient, but steadfast. How do you turn a trial into a triumph? What steps do you follow to cause a downward life event to become an upward, onward life event?
#5 Godliness- How are you staying in right relationship not only with God, but with people? Are you forgiving people and also asking for forgiveness?
#6 Mutual affection- How much quality time are you giving to building personal relationships?What are you doing to enjoy and encourage family and friends? Do people trust you?
#7 Love- How are you expressing love to God and sharing His love with people? Are you fulfilling the Great Commandment?
This is the Bible recipe for you to become a well-balanced believer. Add 7 ingredients to your faith in order to mature into a Godly person. You will be choosing an unbelievable lifestyle which will have a far-reaching influence in this world. It is up to you. This is your choice.
These seven needs could easily be overlooked because society puts more emphasis on the need for education and money. But be reminded, the Scripture focus also says that when you add these needs to your personhood, you will become more effective, productive and closer in friendship to God. Do you realize WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS?
SOMETHING TO DO
As your life progresses, are you adding to your life the dimensions which will cause you to fully mature? You need to take some time to pray and ponder over the 7 needs mentioned above. Take a pen and paper to a quiet place and ask yourself the questions that are mentioned.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, I have placed my faith in You to be my Savior and Lord. Thank you for the privilege of being able to personally know You. And thank you for all the change You are bringing into my life. Today, I am choosing to add to my faith the 7 qualities mentioned in Your Word. I would ask that the Holy Spirit would teach me, and illuminate my mind so that I could grow and mature into the person You have planned for me to be. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become more like You, Lord God. AMEN!