How To Supplement Your Faith In God
The original title for this devotion was “And We All Shall Be Changed.” That is why there is a picture of butterflies at the top. They completely change from being a caterpillar to a butterfly. When you supplement your faith, you are inviting the Holy Spirit to come in and make a change in you.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, . . . and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 2 Peter 1:5, 7
When I was a teenager one of our neighbors mentioned that she noticed a big difference in me. She was comparing me to how I previously acted. I’m glad she saw a noticeable change in me. Because that was the time I had received Jesus as my Savior.
When someone professes Christ for the first time they will experience an initial life change. Often burdens are lifted and a new joy and peace are birthed in them. Then joined with an exuberant zeal for Jesus.
The word used to explain what happens to us when we come to Jesus is “transformation.” All too often though these experiences start to fade away. These life changes, however, need to continue growing toward Christian maturity.
There was a Change in Peter
When Peter was first called to follow Jesus, his life did not reflect the words written in this epistle. He was arrogant and impatient. He cut off a man’s ear, denied the Lord, and then gave up to go fishing.
In men’s standards, Peter would have been classified as immature. They would label him unfit for ministry and not even close to taking a leadership role. However, when Jesus calls a person, a transformation takes place and the standards of men are thrown out the window.
The Process to Supplement Your Faith
In chapter 1of this epistle, Peter said we are to supplement our faith in God. How do we do that? Much of the development of a Christian consists of a process. Barring a miracle from God, we don’t just wake up one morning completely changed.
Peter though laid out for us the building blocks or a process for us to follow. The next sentence contains in a nutshell each block to build upon. With moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, and brotherly affection which will result in a love for everyone. Read the complete chapter of 2 Peter 1 to get the full picture.
Encouragement to Supplement Your Faith and a Warning if you Don’t
In verse 8, Peter gives us some encouraging words to make this building process work in our lives.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter1:10
He also gave us a warning if we fail to allow this building process to happen in our lives.
But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 2 Peter 1:9
Heading Into Eternity
The next couple of verses deal with the practical aspects of our lives in eternity. Peter was saying when we allow these blocks to build in our lives then our salvation is secure.
So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10-11
Lord, thank you for giving us a simplified process to grow as Christians. And for sending the Holy Spirit to help to keep us on track.
A related post you will enjoy reading is How To Live By God’s Standards
You will also like this related post on evangelism called How To Reach Lost People For The Kingdom Of God
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