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.  2 Peter 1:5-8

I recently bought a new hummingbird feeder for my backyard. It’s been fun watch them at close range. They are amazing and unique little birds. They are the only birds that can fly up, down, sideways, forwards, and, backwards. This happens by flapping their wings up to 200 times per second! As I have watched them furiously flapping their wings I have thought how they remind me of some of my efforts this year. I have been furiously working to make progress while at times it seems going sideways or even backwards. In this very challenging year it can feel like even with our hard work we are too often ineffective and unproductive at work, school, and in our journey of faith.

These words of scripture remind us that our effectiveness and productivity as a followers of Christ requires forward progress-demonstrating the character of Christ “in increasing measure.” Our faith is evidence that we have indeed been saved by grace. However that is just the beginning of learning what it means to follow Jesus. That journey of adding to our faith requires effort and will be filled with times where it may feel like we are making little progress, going sideways or even going backwards. However if we make the effort, the Spirit will lead us on a path that will demonstrate goodness, knowledge, self-control, godliness and love. Christ called us into a relationship with him. He called us to join him daily in the restoration of all things, demonstrating his love to others and becoming the effective and productive people that he created us to be-not to just spend our days flapping our wings.     

For Reflection

• Do you feel like you are making progress in your journey of faith during this year?

• How can you be intentional in exhibiting the characteristics described above in the week ahead?

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for this day, for all the ways that you bless our lives through your grace. Lord we want to build on our faith so inspire us and equip us to become more like you. Show us how to be intentional in our journey of becoming the people that you created us to be. Help us to add to our faith and become people that reflect your love in the days ahead.