How To Strengthen Your Faith
We don’t measure our faith by its size. Jesus said faith the size of a mustard seed works. We measure it by its strength. The Apostle Peter enlightened us on how we can strengthen our faith.
…make every effort to respond to God’s promises. 2 Peter 1:5, 7
When the apostle began this second epistle, he wanted to make clear what faith he wrote about. People can extend their faith in many directions. Peter undoubtedly spoke of our faith in Christ.
I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 Peter 1:1
Faith is the foundation of our relationship with the Lord. To grow in the Lord, it takes a combination of grace and peace along with knowledge. And God supplies them to us.
May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2
Peter’s life had changed considerably from the time he physically walked with Jesus. He found himself in a place of denying Jesus. He grew spiritually to become a strong pillar in the church.
That part of his testimony should inspire anyone who feels they have let the Lord down. You can’t let Him down. But, you can let Him pick you up mainly because you can’t do it yourself.
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3
The teaching in this epistle came from Peter’s once wavering faith to one he allowed the Lord to strengthen. Faith doesn’t strengthen by following a formula. It progressively becomes stronger.
It Takes A Process To Strengthen Your Faith
We take the first step in this progression by getting to know Jesus. Most of you reading this have already taken that step. Some, however, may only know about Jesus instead of knowing Him.
We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3
Did you notice how God called us to Himself? By His glory and excellence. God’s glory refers to his beauty, excellence, and perfection. His excellence is a reflection of his nature and character.
Peter continued by saying that God has given us great and precious promises because of his glory and excellence. We couldn’t write everything He has promised. But let’s start with salvation.
We’ve already read that God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. You and I lack nothing because the one who supplies it lacks nothing. He has made us each an enabler.
These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4
Treat the following phrase with the utmost importance. “In view of all this.” In view of everything Peter has initially said, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.
He laid out the nuts and bolts of how to strengthen our faith. In other words, he tells us what the process looks like if we want unwavering faith. We will take his instructions step by step.
Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 2 Peter 1:5
Living Your Faith Daily
So, by faith, we came to Christ. With His power, we strengthen our faith with moral excellence. This means our actions and attitudes align with God’s values and standards.
Moral excellence without knowledge can lead to misguided actions. Therefore, knowing the values and standards of the Lord aids us in staying in alignment with Him.
…and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 2 Peter 1:6
Self-control helps us resist temptation and avoid conforming to the things of this world. It keeps a moment-by-moment restraint on our urges, giving us the ability to make the right choices.
Adding patient endurance to self-control gives us the ability to restrain our actions and emotions. Then, we can steadfastly persevere through challenging and trying situations.
When persevering through situations and trials, we must maintain godliness. Instead of handling them in a worldly manner, we sustain our faith and commitment to keeping God’s will.
…and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 2 Peter 1:7
Brotherly affection refers to the special bond and care that should exist between fellow Christians. It should motivate us to do good for each other.
The Summary to Strengthen Our Faith
Peter began this building process with faith. Each added characteristic moved in one direction: towards love. Everything we do in Christianity builds on faith and ends with love.
This ongoing process that Peter presented revealed how his fellow Christians could strengthen their faith. They couldn’t just check off each attribute; they needed to live them daily.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8
Peter had something to say to those failing to strengthen their faith by giving up on the process. He probably remembered his own shortsightedness in the days when his faith wavered.
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
Therefore, he encouraged the church to strengthen their faith. Do it by building moral excellence with knowledge, followed by self-control and patient endurance.
Continue the building process with godliness, brotherly affection, and capped off with love for everyone. He said to keep working on it so your faith will strengthen every day.
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. 2 Peter 1:10
Heading Into Eternity
Have you ever thought of how you will enter into God’s Kingdom? Will we all walk in together? I never gave it any thought until I read this next verse. This extends beyond excitement!
Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:11
Lord, thank you for giving us a step-by-step process to strengthen our faith. Help us to fulfill our daily purpose of maintaining our Christianity.
Check out these related devotions about faith.
- How Do You Handle Forced Faith?
- Is My Faith Being Tested During A Storm In Life?
- When Your Faith Is Tested How Do You Handle It?
- Faith Comes From Hearing The Good News
- Store Your Treasures In Heaven
- A Righteous Life By Faith In God
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