And abound…

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

     But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8

en I was a new believer 33 years ago, I remember the excitement and enthusiasm I had to study the Bible and learn and grow.  I joined a women’s Bible study in the book Hebreof ws.  I could not get enough of it.  I went through the study book in a few months when the class was working through it over eight months. The Bible study teacher mentioned to me that the other women were complaining it was too hard of a book to study.  What did I know? I was new at this.
We have all seen people long in the faith that appear to have shifted into neutral and seem to be coasting in their walk with Christ. And now I have been a Christian more than a few years.  The easy thing to do is to coast along.  The very thing Peter warns us against.

For if these things are yours and abound…  Not just if these things are yours… But “and abound” — ESV says: For if these qualities are yours and are increasing…
So here’s a quiz that will give us a quick status check:
Is my faith abounding?
Is my virtue increasing?
Am I growing in knowledge?
Am I increasing in self-control?
Is my perseverance increasing?
Am I’m growing in godliness?
Is my brotherly kindness abounding?
How did you do?
Are you feeling barren and unfruitful?

Perhaps it’s time to ask yourself some hard questions.  Are you bold enough to ask someone close to you if they see you abounding in these qualities?

Let’s not limp across the finish line; let’s be so laden with fruit that we collapse fully spent, every last speck of energy used up to the glory of His name.

Blessings Diane

Diane Hunt – After serving 16 years full time on the staff of America’s Keswick, Diane and her husband moved to North Carolina where she continues to serve part time as a contributing writer and Partner Care Consultant.  She is also a Biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.