Make Every Effort to Add

 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

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. For 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. Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-11   

The kingdom of God takes passion, and without it we will not bear the desired result. In the above scripture Peter used the following words to emphasize the efforts and diligence we are required of to be effective in the kingdoms. He commanded.

The command

‘Make every effort to add’ #5

The command is emphasised again.

‘Make every effort to add.’ #10

He doesn’t only emphasise the need for passion, he also explains the benefits that come with great passion. The advantage is described.

‘If you possess these qualities in increasing measure’ #8

‘They will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive’ #8

How wonderful is it to be kept from ineffectiveness? We want to be productive and fruitful in all areas of our lives. We don’t want to be ineffective. We don’t want to live our lives in vain. We want to have a significant life. Our passion and diligence keep us from being ineffective.

The scripture clearly teaches us that with our passion and diligence, we will ‘confirm your calling and election.’ #8

It doesn’t only confirm and establish our calling; it also guarantees that we won't stumble.

'If you do these things, you will never stumble.' #8

The danger of not having the right attitude towards our salvation and the impartation of divine nature to us is huge. This attitude originates from nothing less than nearsightedness or blindness.

‘whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind’ #9

The sign of not being passionate enough is that the person doesn’t really appreciate the forgiveness. He took it for granted. He thinks that it is just a change of religion not kingdom.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Colossians 1:13

He doesn’t know it's a change of lords.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-2

The kingdom of God isn’t for the faint hearted.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. Mathew 11:12

That is why Jesus said you are not cold or hot; you are just warm. I will spit you out. Being neutral or lukewarm isn’t normal. To be lukewarm is as bad as to be cold. Not progressing in passion is as bad as going back. The norm is passionate diligence at its best.

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16

The other shortcomings of the person who doesn’t show due diligence are

‘forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.’ #9

The person who doesn’t show the maximum passion for the things of God is definitely guilty of ‘forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins’

‘Make every effort to add’ is the ideal principle of the kingdom of God. Let’s live up to the standard of the kingdom of God.

Abiy Wakuma Dinsa